Get Fit and Tone up: The Best Exercises for Women Preeti Baid August 2, 2019 Health & Beauty 4145 Are you looking for a new workout routine? If so, check out this guide to learn about the best exercises for women. In order to get stronger, or fitter, you need to challenge your body beyond what it is currently capable of doing. You will grow muscle from your very first strength training session! Pushups and cardio are classic exercises that people think of when getting fit. They are rarely useful unless you are fit and strong enough to push up your own body weight. However, there has been a shift in the fitness industry, to encourage people to use dynamic strength-building movements, that raise your heart rate and build muscle. The best exercises for women should focus on building a strong and stable core first, which will help with leg and arm exercises later. Your core includes your abdominals (all of them), your back muscles, and your pelvic floor. For our choice of exercises, continue reading. McGill Curl Up This is the perfect core building exercise. It works your core while keeping your lower back in a neutral position. This helps to minimize the stress placed on your spinal column and lower back muscles. Performing this exercise correctly builds the muscles that support your spine and pelvis. How? Lay on your back with 1 leg in a bent position, and your foot flat on the floor. Keep your other leg extended and resting on the floor. Engage your stomach muscles first, and then raise your chest and shoulders of the floor and hold this position for 15 seconds. Remember to breathe! Complete 5 reps and then switch legs. Always remember to engage your abdominals correctly and avoid a ‘coning’ effect on your lower abdomen. Hip Raise/Glute Bridge This is another great core building exercise that also works your glutes, quads, and hamstrings, along with your balance! This exercise will build muscles that support your pelvis, lower back, and knees. How? Lay on your back with both legs bent and your feet flat on the floor. Place your arms outstretched and your hands ‘palm down’ on the floor. From this position, tuck your pelvis in and engage your abdominals. Raise your hips above your head while keeping your pelvis tucked and abdominals engaged. Hold this for 15 seconds, and gradually drop your hips down to the floor. Repeat this as many times as you can. When you reach the top of the movement, squeeze your glutes together. For an extra challenge, raise your arms towards the ceiling. Upper Back Swiss Ball Raise This exercise requires your core to stabilize you on the ball. It targets your upper back and abdominals. This exercise will improve your posture and tone your back for all those backless dresses! How? Lay on a Swiss Ball with your stomach on the ball and legs and arms outstretched. Engage your abdominal muscles to protect your lower back. Lift your arms into a “hands up” position, parallel to the floor. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and rotate your forearms as far as they will go. If you are finding this exercise too simple, then you can add dumbbells to the exercise. For more strength-building exercises with personal trainers, take a look here. Complete Your Best Exercises For Women Now you have 3 new best exercises for women to incorporate into your workout routine. Why not try these 3 simple exercises each day? Within a week or two, you will notice a significant change in strength and balance. For more exercise and health tips, check out the other articles right here on our blog. SHARE THIS POST