Work out in your own home

ARE you not keen to do exercises outside in the summer? That’s OK because with these indoor exercise tips from Queensland Health you won’t need to leave the house.

Anything that gets your heart rate up and the cardio respiratory system pumping will deliver the main cardio benefits you need and you can do that with any activity that gets the large muscles in your arms, legs and hips moving.

You can find more advanced no-running-cardio options to build into your routine at healthier.qld.gov.au/fitness/ workouts/no-running-cardio. Here are a couple:

Lateral hops: Aim for 20-30 repetitions

Lateral hops look simple – they are, after all, just jumping from side to side. But if you do them right, you’re working a bunch of big muscles in your legs, your butt, and your torso that adds up to some simple and effective cardio.

Keep legs together, bound from side to side, jumping over an imaginary obstacle. Land with soft knees. Try to remain on the balls of your feet.

Superman: Aim for 10-15 repetitions per set

The superman stretch will contribute to your cardio, but it has the added benefit of improving your overall strength and increasing muscle definition. Getting some cardio into your routine is important, but gradually building up your strength and balance are also important long-term goals if you’re aiming to be healthier.

Start on your hands and knees, with back straight and core muscles tight. Keep hips low, simultaneously raise your right arm and left leg straightening at your elbow and knee.

Pause then lower to the starting position before alternating sides.