5 fitness equipment you never knew you had

Everything you need to tone your problem areas and get in shape is right in front of your eyes. You don’t need a gym membership and you definitely don’t need expensive fitness equipment. It just takes a little imagination to transform everyday items into body sculpting tools.

1. Hardwood floors and socks: When it comes to home décor, hardwood floors are really all the rage, but stand on them while wearing a pair of socks and you’ve unknowingly created a new piece of exercise equipment that takes your workout to a whole new level. . The wooden floor under your socks creates a slippery surface that engages more muscles as you try to control your movements. Constant contact with the ground as you slide back to the starting position targets your inner thighs and core in a way that a standard workout routine never will. Side lunges and the scissor plank are two great examples:

Side sliding lunges:

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your hands in front of your chest to help keep you balanced.

Put your weight on your left leg.

While slowly bending your left knee and squatting, slide your right foot to the side.

While stretching your left leg, slide your right foot inward. Your right foot is in constant contact with the ground. Focus on bringing your leg in with your inner thigh.

Complete three sets of 15 reps on each side.

Scissor plank:

Start in a full plank position with your hands under your shoulders and your arms straight.

Spread your feet, spreading your legs as wide as possible without sinking your lower back. Squeeze your inner thighs as you bring your feet back together. Complete three sets of 15 reps.

2. Your sofa: This multipurpose furniture is not just for lounging. Not only does it serve as great fitness equipment for all levels of exercise and for total body fitness routines, its various elevations (sofa cushion versus armrest) allow you to target different parts of your muscle that you may find more difficult. to tone up. Raising your legs on the sofa cushion while doing a push-up makes this upper-body exercise advanced. It targets your upper chest, while simultaneously sculpting your shoulders and arms. Beginners practice perfect form while standing on the armrest and bending over to do push-ups. Standing allows you to control the amount of body weight you are pushing and gives you the benefits of defined arms and chest.

3. Your purchases: Whether it’s once a week or once a month, any exercise helps. Edibles are a great arm toning activity. If you don’t want to draw attention to yourself, don’t move. Hold a shopping bag on each arm at 90 degree angles and keep them there as long as possible. This exercise is known as isometric retention. The longer you stay in place, the more muscle fibers you recruit and the more fibers you recruit, the prettier your arms will look. It’s that easy.

4. Your body: your body is the only all-in-one cardio and resistance training tool you own. In fact, some would say that store-bought fitness equipment is a thing of the past, as newer and more creative body movements take the boredom out of exercise. The burpee is a great example of cardio and full-body toning exercise:

Burpee:

Spread your feet shoulder-width apart. Lower your body into a squatting position while placing your hands on the floor in front of you.

Step back with your feet so that you are in a push-up position. For more intensity, jump back.

Bend your elbows and lower your chest into a push-up.

Put your feet in their original position. Stand up and then jump into the air.

5. The stairs: Stairs are the best butt lift fitness equipment you have ever owned. The main muscle in the butt, the Gluteus Maximus, works to straighten the hips. Every time your hip is flexed, your Gluteus Maximus has to work to straighten your leg. This is why climbing stairs is so effective. The higher the step, the greater the hip flexion and the more your butt will work.

It does not end there. Stand up at the end of the movement and place your full weight on the leg that is pushing up. This works another muscle in the butt called the Gluteus Medius. This muscle tones the side of your butt as it flexes to keep your hips aligned.

It does not stop here. Almost anything can become your new fitness equipment, adding fun and innovation to any fitness routine.