Easy Exercises You Can Do At Home

Here are some simple exercises you can do to start with.

Cardiovascular Exercises:

1. Walking

• Walking is the simplest, cheapest and easiest form of cardiovascular exercise.
• It is the best starting point for anyone who is just starting to exercise.
• It is very low impact and is extremely convenient.
• Start slowly, then gradually work up to walking longer and faster.
• Finding a walking partner can help keep you motivated.

2. Jogging/Running

• This is a step up from walking. It is harder and puts more impact and stress on the body.
• If you are just starting an exercise program, work through fast walking before moving up to jogging.

3. Cycling

4. Swimming

Resistance Training Exercises:

1. Chest

Wall Push-Ups

2. Back

Standing Towel Rows

3. Shoulders

Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Presses

4. Legs

Bodyweight Squats

Place your feet about shoulder width apart. Keeping your torso vertical and a slight arch in your lower back, start the movement by bending the knees. You can hold onto something for support and assistance.

Go only as far down as you feel comfortable when first starting out. If you can go down until your thighs are just below parallel, do so. This is the full range goal.

Using leg power, push yourself back up to the start position. Use your grip on the solid object only for balance unless you absolutely need to pull yourself up.

As you get stronger with squats, don't use the object anymore. When you can do good, full-range reps without it, you can start using weight. For weight, use two duffel bags (evenly loaded) or two milk jugs, etc. Hold them at your sides and squat.

5. Abdominals

Abdominal Crunches

Lie down flat on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor. Hold your hands wherever you feel comfortable (on your chest or beside your head - just be sure you don't pull on your head).

The typical crunch is taught by instructing you to simply roll your upper torso forward. This is fine to start with. To increase the effectiveness of the crunch movement, push your chest and head up towards the ceiling pushing your lower back flat onto the floor.

Your anatomy will automatically cause you to follow a crunching pattern. Hold at the top of the movement for a second and squeeze hard.

6. Biceps

Dumbbell Curls

• Stand with your knees slightly bent, arms at your sides, holding your resistance bags or two dumbbells in your hands.
• The curl movement happens only at the elbow. With your upper arm pinned at your side and bending only at the elbow, lift the weight up to shoulder level.
• Your palm should be facing forward all the way up and all the way down.
• Squeeze hard at the top then lower slowly.
• Do the same with the other arm, alternating back and forth.

7. Triceps

Bench Dips

These can be done on the edge of a chair or bench. Sit on the side edge of a flat bench or the front edge of a chair. Place your hands on the edge of the chair right beside your glutes and grip the edge.

To start with, your feet should be flat on the floor about two feet in front of you with your knees bent.

Move yourself off the chair so you are now supporting yourself on your hands.

Bend your arms, dipping your body down. Go down only as far as you feel comfortable, being careful not to bounce out of the bottom.

Push back up, squeezing the triceps.

It is important to keep your back close to the edge of the bench as you do these to minimize shoulder stress.

When you're done the set, push yourself back onto the chair.

8. Calves

Standing Calf Raises

This exercise can be done on the edges of stairs, wood blocks, books, etc.

Do both legs at the same time to start with then, as you get stronger, do them one leg at a time. Hold a bag in your hand for resistance as you get stronger

Stand on the edge of the block with only the balls of your feet on the block.

Keeping knees stiff and bending only at the ankles, lower your heels down towards the floor. Go down until you feel a strong stretch in your calves. Reverse the direction without bouncing and push up as high as you can.

Do this movement slowly to feel the contraction all the way up.