Gym Exercises

The most popular gym exercises are those which can be carried out without specialized equipment.

Pushups remain one of the favorites; these can be carried out either within a gym environment or at home. Pushups are achieved by laying face down on the floor with the palms of the hands flat on the floor at shoulder width apart. The whole body is pushed up using the arms and back muscles, the back and legs should remain straight throughout the exercise, the body is the lower back down to the floor. It is best to start with 5 pushups and then gradually increase the number and the rate in which they are achieved.

Sits ups are another great gym exercise which can also e carried out at home. Begin by laying on the back with the knees bent and the feet flat on the floor. Cross the arms across the chest and bring the body up to meet the knees. Repeat the sit ups five times to begin with and like the pushups increase the amount and speed gradually. This gym exercise can cause strain on the back, therefore anyone who has a back problem should not attempt to do sit ups.

To build stamina and help build leg muscles, jumping on the spot can be an effective gym exercise. This exercise is simply a matter of jumping off the ground at least one inch , the higher the jumps and the faster they can be achieved the more impact this exercise will have. This gym exercise can cause jarring of the knees and care should be taken not to strain the knees.

For thighs and buttocks squats are the perfect gym exercises. These can be achieved by standing up straight with the arms stretched out in front of the body. Then squat down until the thighs are parallel with the floor before returning to the standing position. To start with five squats should be done ensuring that the back is kept straight and the head is facing forward. The amount of squats can be increased over a period of time. This is a great exercise to help build stamina.

A bicycle crunch can be carried out as part of a gym exercise program. Begin by lying on the floor, fold the hands behind the head, bend the leg and bring it up to meet the alternate elbow, this is then repeated using the opposite leg and elbow, as if peddling a bicycle! As with all gym exercises begin by doing five to ten bicycle crunches and gradually build the amount and speed at which they are completed.

All gym exercises should be carried out with care, any sudden pain is an indication that either the body and muscles are being overstretched and the exercise should be stopped until a period of recuperation has enable the body to repair itself.