Video: Park Bench Step-Ups
admin | August 31, 2009Great legs are just a few steps away with this park bench exercise.
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Step your right foot onto the bench. (Make sure your foot is flat and securely on the bench before starting this exercise.) Focusing on your right leg, bring your body up onto the bench as if it were a large step. Once up hold and squeeze your left leg behind you for a 3-count of “Squeeze-It-In”.
Come back down on the left leg and then bring your right leg down and tap the ground. Repeat until you have completed 1 set of 12. Switch to the left leg for another set of 12.

Toss the ball into the air while contracting your abs, then raise your shoulders off of the floor and catch the ball. Grab the ball hold the crunch for a 3-count of Squeeze-It-In and lower slowly back down. Repeat crunching, throwing and catching for 2 sets of 12. 


Slowly bring your elbows up and back until your hands are alongside your chest. (See photo.) When elbows are raised, stop and squeeze your arms back as if trying to touch your elbows together. Lower bags to starting position.
Face forward in front of your countertop, stove or sink. Keeping your right leg and knee straight slowly raise your left leg out to the side. Raise it high enough to feel a good stretch in your glutes and thigh, but not so high that your hips come out of alignment. (See photo of Jenny with Elizabeth Marcotte of Let’s Dish.) Your toes, hips and shoulders should stay facing forward throughout this movement. Remember to engage your core (squeeze in your abs) during this exercise.
While standing in front of your counter bend your knees slightly and engage your core (squeeze in your abs). Slowly lift one leg off the floor about six inches. (See photo.)
Make sure your standing leg is stabilized to help you balance. Hold your stance for 15 seconds. Bring your leg back down and continue for 2 sets of 12 on each leg. 






















