Health Focus

GET YOUR EXERCISE FIX AT HOME

Get fit with these simple exercises that can be done in the comfort of home and with a minimal amount of equipment!

PUSH-UPS Push-ups, alongside sit-ups, squats and planks are a staple of any good workout, whether at home or at the gym.

Do it!- To do a push-up lay on your stomach and place your toes on the floor and then raise yourself with your arms shoulder-width apart, before slowly lowering yourself so your stomach is an inch off the ground. Repeat this as many times as you can. Push-ups work your core, your shoulders and your chest.

PROPERTY NEWS SIT-UPS There are a huge variety of sit-ups depending on which of your abdominal muscles you want to hit. The standard sit-up works all the abs.

Do it! - Lay on your back with your knees bent and, ideally, with your feet held down to the floor, and then using your stomach muscles, and not your back, lift your upper body towards your knees – hold at the top, before then slowly coming back down.

PLANKS Planks are excellent for core strength. Get into a push-up position, however, instead of lowering yourself to the ground, hold your body tense, lifted off the ground for as long as you can – keeping your back straight at all times. To make things harder in the standard plank, move from your hands to your elbows.

Do it! -To do a side plank, lay sideways on the floor, resting on your forearm and then raise your body into a straight line and hold.

Planks are excellent for core strength

SQUATS Squats are a whole-body compound exercise and as such, are one of the best home workout exercises you can do.

Do it! -Stand with your knees slightly bent and your feet shoulder-width apart, and while keeping your back straight, bend your knees and get your bum as close to the floor as possible. To make the exercise harder you can grab something heavy and hold it in front of you as you squat.

DIPS Dips are a great exercise for your shoulders, chest and triceps and all you need is a sofa or a chair.

Do it! - Sitting on the floor, move so your back is against the legs of the chair or sofa and extend your legs in front of you. Now put your arms onto the flat base of the chair or sofa and using your arms, lift your body off the ground keeping your back straight and your legs extended.