Exercise Tip: 3 Easy Indoor Exercises

Here are 3 easy indoor exercises that will help you burn calories, strengthen your muscles, stay limber, and keep moving. They’re easy enough to do anywhere — so no excuses!

Easy Indoor Exercises

1. Leg lifts

Stand up and hold on to a wall or a sturdy chair. Lift one leg to the front, side, and rear, 15 times in each direction, for each leg. Alternate legs between sets. These are fabulous for burning calories because your legs comprise a large chunk of your body’s mass and it requires energy to lift them. You’re also strengthening and stretching muscles. When you can do this one of the indoor exercises without holding on to anything for support, you are improving your balance as well.

2. Wall push-ups

Stand with your arms straight out in front of you shoulder width apart and your palms touching a wall with your fingers up. Bend your elbows and lean toward the wall, keeping your back and legs straight. Slowly push yourself back to standing. Do three sets of ten repetitions. This exercise helps build upper body and core strength. Wall push-ups are gentler on your shoulders and wrists than standard push-ups. Once you can do this easily, move to floor push-ups on your knees for several weeks, and then graduate to standard floor push-ups.

3. Door Squats

Find a strong door that opens inward, where you can grab both sides of the handle and have enough room behind you to squat. Grab both handles and take one step back from the door. Lean gently back, bending your legs at the knee, as if you are about to sit in a chair. Hold the final position for a count of three, then stand up again, gently pulling up on the door handles for support. Door squats provide a little extra postural support while helping you perform a well-formed squat, which strengthens your derriere, quadriceps, hamstrings, and core.

Remember to ease into your workout. Start slowly, use good form, and focus on your muscles as you move.

Finish with gentle stretching.