We all like free stuff. Just admit it. It feels good to get something for free. Now, I'm not saying that we don't work hard for our money and that we don't take pride in our ability to buy something we want with the money we've earned, but sometimes it's just fun to get free stuff. A free pen, a free refrigerator magnet, heck, even if you have to buy one thing to get another free it feels good. Like a free ice cream cone when you buy a large pizza at Pizza Doc's. So now that I've mentioned pizza and ice cream, we can talk about the real subject here, which is exercise. If anyone thought that was cruel, I hope that you realize that pizza and ice cream can be part of a well balanced diet. Even if it's just a small part, but that's a topic for a different article.
Benefits of Home Workouts
Let's talk about workouts and how they can be free too. In fact as you may well know, there are a ridiculous amount of free workout routines on the internet. But we're not talking about just any workout routines. No, we want workout routines that we can do right at home. Why workout at home? Because there's no travel. Because there's no membership fees, and because we don't have to pay for expensive equipment if we don't want to. Simply put, home workout routines save time and money. So, without further adieu I give you two free home workout routines. One for the lower body and one for the upper body. This first one is great for developing shoulder size and strength particularly well.
Upper Body Workout
The first exercise is an often unheard of exercise that was created by the late Jack Lalanne. It's called the Pike Pushup, and it works wonders for the shoulders and arms. Get in a pushup position and prop your feet up on some stair steps or a chair. Do your best to form a right angle with your upper and lower body. As you go down your head should touch the ground and then you push back up. Make this exercise even more fun by placing your hands on two stacks of thick books on both sides of your head. Start off with 5 of sets of 3-5. Pike Pushups are an amazing exercise. Guys, Pike Pushups will give you those buff strong shoulders you want, and ladies, Pike Pushups will tone your shoulders and that pesky back of the arm area.
The Strength of the Sides
The second upper body exercise are called Punching Side Bends. These are especially good for the upper back and oblique muscles. Stand, feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart and hands in fists. Reach with your right fist and bend over to the left side feeling a good stretch in your obliques. Then do the same with the left arm. Go back and forth like this for 3 sets of 10-15 repetitions.
Lower Body Workout
The other routine is a lower body workout. We're going to start out with Lunges. To do these, begin by standing with your feet about a foot apart and your hands on your hips. Step forward with your right leg and bend your knees to where they form two 90 degree angles. Push back to the standing position and drop down with your left leg bending. To make this harder, use weights such as cinder blocks or dumbbells. When you develop enough balance, you can do jumping lunges where you jump from the down position and swing your left leg forward while your right leg goes back. 5 sets of 5 should get you off to a good start.
Leg Curls on a Bench
Pick a nice clean spot on the ground to lay on and get something sturdy for your feet like a couch or chair. Sit on the ground with your hands by your sides and feet propped up on your sturdy item of choice. Pull with your hamstrings as you thrust your hips up and stretch until you can't stretch no more. Or something like that. 5 sets of 5 will work great for this one as well. One way to put these workouts to good use is, upper body on Mondays and Thursdays, and lower body on Tuesdays and Fridays. Increase the reps as often as possible, be safe and have fun with it.
