It can be tough to get in your workouts during the summer. Lots of travel plans, temptation of happy hour, or just choosing to bum around at the park, it’s inevitable that our workouts end up being last on our list. I admit that I’ve skipped a few workouts to hit the beach instead. So if your summer schedule is packed and you just can’t find the time…well there is hope!

If you’ve got just 15 minutes at work (and you know you do!), there’s no excuse not to sneak in a quick workout so you can at least maintain and keep your body fit. Try these exercises and stretches and build a mini workout in your office.

 

WORK IT OUT AT WORK!

Sliding Split Squat

Stand up straight with one foot on a rolling chair. Start sliding the chair back as you bend the front knee into a right angle. Slightly lean your torso over the front leg but keep your back straight. Slide the chair back to the front leg, repeat, and switch leg. Try 3 sets of 15 repetitions. 

 

Push Ups

Set your body up in a plank position against your desk with straight arms set shoulder width apart. Bend your elbows into a right angle lowering your body towards your desk, keeping elbows in line with the shoulders, then press yourself back up. Try 3 sets of 20-30 repetitions.

 

Squats

Place your chair slightly behind you to give yourself a boundary. Set your feet hip width apart, extend your arms straight, and begin to bend your knees moving your hips back towards the chair. Try not to sit fully into the chair instead tap the chair gently and then stand right back up. Make sure to keep your knees in line with your toes and don’t allow them to move past your toes when squatting. Try 3 sets of 20 repetitions.

 

Tricep Dips

Move your chair up against a wall or desk so it doesn’t move. Place your hands on the edge of your chair and extend your legs straight but keep your back close to the edge. Bend your elbows to a right angle, aligning the elbows with your shoudlers, then press yourself back up. To modify, bend your knees and place your feet flat on the ground. Try 3 sets of 15 repetitions. 

 

Walking Lunges

Take a big step forward bending both knees to a right angle. Then step the back leg forward next to the front leg or into the next lunge step. Make your way down a long hallway or just step forward and back in a smaller space. Make sure your front knee does not go past your toes. Take 40 lunge steps total (can be broken up into 4 sets of 10 steps)

 

STRETCH IT OUT AT WORK!

 

Chest Stretch

Stand right next to a wall or filing cabinet and raise your arm back and up so your inner arm is resting against the wall. Try to keep your shoulders in line and your arm as straight as possible. Switch arms. Hold for 30-40 seconds. 

 

Figure 4 Hip Stretch

Sitting in your chair, bend one knee and place the foot on the other knee. Make sure to flex the foot to stabilize the knee. Lean forward towards the top leg, keeping your spine straight with a slight arch in the lower back. Switch legs. Hold for 60 seconds each leg. 

 

Hip Flexor Stretch

Set your legs up in a very long lunge making sure your front knee is right above the ankle and position the back knee as far back as you can while keeping your hips in a straight line. Drop your hips forward as you lift your chest up, placing your hands on your front knee to stabilize and assist with a straight back. Switch legs. Hold for 40-60 seconds each leg. 

 

Seated Spinal Twist

Sit up straight in your chair. Turn your torso to the right, keeping your hips anchored and rotating only at the waist. Hold on to the back of the chair and right knee to assist with a deeper twist.  Look over your right shoulder.  Make sure to keep a slight arch in the lower back and your upper back straight. Repeat on the left side. Hold for 30 seconds each side. 

 

These exercises and stretches can be done as many times as you’d like throughout the day. It doesn’t take any equipment or much space so really…there are no excuses. 🙂 Be desk-smart and use that space and time to the fullest and sneak it in that workout! Then you can hit the beach and all the happy hours you want guilt free! Happy Summer!

Here’s a typical ab routine: 50 sit ups, 50 crunches, hold plank for 1 minute and repeat. A bit boring, redundant, and after some time…ineffective. There’s nothing wrong with those exercises but there is so much more to strengthening your core than crunches and planks.

Most equate the “core” with the abdominals, which is the outer most visible layer, of course, that’s when it’s not covered with fat :). But the core muscles extend far beyond the abs. The major core muscles lay deep beneath the exterior musculature that people typically train. These muscles are the pelvic floor, transversus abdominis, erector spinae, multifidus, internal and external obliques, quadratus lumborum and the rectus abdominis. The minor core muscles are the hip flexor muscle group, adductors, hamstrings, latissimus dorsi, gluteus maximus, and the trapezius. Basically, all the muscles that attach to the pelvis work together to functionally move, support, and stabilize the spine.

The core provides us with three dimensional functional movement which is more than just the lateral exercises most ab/core workouts include. Our daily activities include movements in all three planes: frontal (forward/back), sagittal (side to side), and transverse (rotation). Therefore we should train our core to be stronger while moving in those 3 planes, right? Right! So check out this quick and effective workout that will train your core front, back and around.

MINUTE #1: SUPERMAN

Break it down:
– Lay on stomach with arms extended alongside ears.
– Press the pubic bone into the floor to initiate a lift in the chest, arms, and legs.
– Engage back body muscles to lift higher and lower down with control.
– Reach fingers and toes in opposite direction to create length in the spine. Slight squeeze of the glutes and inner thighs to lift the legs up higher.

Targets:
– Erector spinae, quadratus lumborum, hamstrings, adductors, glutes, and trapezius

 

MINUTE #2: GLIDING ELBOW PLANKS

Break it down: 
– Start in elbow plank aligning shoulders directly over the elbows, body parallel to the floor, forearms push against the floor to slightly round upper back, legs engaged, feet flexed.
– Slide shoulders forward so they glide past the elbows. Feet glide forward onto tip toes.
– Slide shoulders back so they move slightly behind elbows. Feet glide back onto the balls or mid foot.

Targets:
– Rectus abdominis, multifidus, transversus abdominis, serratus anterior and posterior, pectorals, and deltoids.

 

MINUTE #3: SIDE LEG LIFTS

Break it down:

– Lay on one side with hips slightly tilted forward. Relax head and neck and place arms under the head.
– Place a block in between the feet to keep adductors (inner thighs) engaged.
– Squeeze the block and engage obliques to lift both legs up. Try to relax upper body.

Targets:
– Transversus abdominis, multifidus, external/internal obliques, and adductors

 

MINUTE #4: SIDE PLANK TWISTS

Break it down:
– Set up in side plank on the right side with shoulders directly positioned on top of the hand. Stagger feet so the right foot is in front of the left.
– Bend the left elbow to bring hand behind the head and open the chest.
– Push the floor away with the right hand to stabilize core and slightly lift right leg up towards abdomen.
– Move your left elbow across chest towards the leg so the elbow and knee connect in the middle.
– Release the foot back down while opening the chest.
– Repeat for 30 seconds then switch to the left side.

Targets:
– Rectus abdominis, multifidus, internal/external obliques, quadriceps, deltoids, serratus anterior/posterior, transversus abdominis

PERFORM THESE EXERCISES 2x FOR A TOTAL OF 8 MINUTES! 

Add these exercises to your routine and give your core a three dimensional workout. Targeting the front, back, and sides of your core will help you set up a stronger and more stable foundation. Your core becomes a force transfer center and stabilizer to assist you in all exercises and every day activities. The more you understand the muscles that make up your core, the more they will work. Training your entire core to work efficiently will help with balance and stability, a straighter spine, better posture, injury prevention and a stronger, more powerful you! Win Win! Now get to work! 

 

At least once a day, I hear someone complain about pain in their lower back. Slipped or bulging discs, pinched nerves, back spasms, tightness, chronic pain…to name a few. With all the sitting, twisting, bending, and pounding we do on a daily basis, it’s hard to have a healthy and happy back. I can see how 3 out of 4 people have experienced some form of back pain, making it 90% of Americans with LBP (lower back pain).

The muscles of the back are very complex but yet divisible as each layer serves a specific purpose in movement.

• Superficial Layer: attaches and moves the upper extremities
  • Trapezius
  • Latissimus Dorsi
  • Levator Scapulae
  • Rhomboid Group
• Intermediate Layer: in charge of breathing and expansion as they are connected to the ribs
  • Serratus Posterior Group
• Deep Layer: moves the trunk and supports the entire back
  • Spinalis
  • Multifidus
  • Longissimus
  • Iliocostalis
  • Splenius group

Due to high stress in our lives and the hours of sitting, it’s inevitable that our backs will start to change shape and adapt to the environment that we expose it to. Poor posture, weakness, tightness, and compensations are the common sides effect of poor functioning in the back. The importance of keeping your back strong and posture in alignment will absolutely help with your quality of life along with performing basic everyday movements and activities, particularly in exercise and sport.

Some great back exercises are the more common ones you will see at the gym.

• Seated row
• One arm row
• Pull ups/ chin ups
• Lat pulldowns

These exercises are definitely a part of my routine. But the 3 back exercises below target so much more than just the superficial layer of the back. They tap into all the layers and give your legs and core a workout and stretch, too.

 

#1 DEADLIFTS: Not only the quintessential weightlifting exercise but also an exercise that mimics a real life lift. Picking up your baby, a heavy box, luggage, a table, all should be in the form of a deadlift.

Important Form to Keep:

– Feet are set up hip width apart
– Slight natural arch in the lower back
– Chest up to avoid lower back rounding
– Hips go back first and then knees bend

 

#2 BENT OVER BARBELL ROWS: a full body compound exercise that works the upper and lower back, abs, hips, and arms. This exercise isolates these muscles to build a stronger and more muscular back.

Important Form to Keep: 

– Keep knees slightly bent
– Natural arch in the lower back
– Keep head neutral in line with your spine
– Keep your torso parallel to the floor. If need to, come up a few inches when pulling the back to the chest.
– Avoid thrusting hips forward when pulling heavier weight.

 

#3 SLIDING COBRA (BACK EXTENSIONS): a Pilates twist to the typical back extensions you see on the Roman Chair/Hyperextension bench. Use glides or small towels under each hand for easy sliding. Looks pretty easy and graceful until your third or fourth rep. 🙂 Works the upper and lower back plus the glutes, abs, obliques, hamstring, triceps while stretching and opening the chest. Sweet!

Important Form to Keep:
– Relax your shoulders and trapezius so there’s lots of space between your ears and shoulders
– Press your hips into the floor to initiate the lift
– Avoid squeezing glutes
– Squeeze shoulder blades together to keep chest open
– Keep head neutral in line with spine

Our back muscles are layered and multi-functional and most of them attach to our spine. Which is why they control so much of how we stand and why we experience LBP. We use these muscles daily and often demand more from them than they can handle. So build a strong back so the spine is in its proper and optimal position. This will also enable your body to move in a full range of motion through a strong foundation so restrictions won’t prevent you from doing a certain exercise, lifting a heavy object, or just moving throughout your day.  So if you don’t already incorporate these back exercises into your routine, now is the time!

Strong Backs = Better Postures! Get to it! 🙂