5 Popular Exercise Names You Should Know About
Do you need some inspiration to bolster your fitness regimen? If so, then incorporating these 5 popular exercise names into your routine might be the ticket to help you achieve your fitness targets. These exercises are popular for various reasons, such as their usefulness to build strength, burn calories, or enhance cardio and flexibility. Let’s take a closer look at these critical exercises and see how you can leverage them to your advantage.
1. Burpees
Burpees are an effective full-body exercise, and you don’t require any equipment to perform them. To do burpees:
- Begin in a standing position.
- Lower down into a squat until your hands are on the floor.
- Jump your legs out behind you to get into a plank position.
- Perform a push-up, and then jump your legs back to your starting squat stance.
- Jump upward from your squat position, reaching upwards.
Repeat this motion as many times as you can for about 30 seconds for a full-body workout. This workout is excellent for improving your endurance, building your strength, and enhancing your cardiovascular health.
2. Plank Hold
Plank exercise is one of the best workouts to build your core muscles by holding your bodyweight in a position parallel to the floor. To perform a plank hold:
- Lie flat on your stomach with your feet together.
- Place your elbows, forearms, and hands on the floor, palms facing downwards.
- Push up your body from the ground, resting only on your toes and your forearms.
- Hold your body steady and straight for as long as you can.
Doing this workout regularly can help improve your posture, ease back pain, and enhance your athletic performance.
3. Squats
Squats are a well-known classic exercise to build your leg muscle mass, tone your thighs and butt, and enhance your overall lower body strength. To do a squat:
- Stand up straight with your feet apart, hip-width distance, and your arms by your side.
- Bend your knees and push your hips back as if you’re sitting in a chair.
- Keep your chest elevated and ensure that your knees don’t go beyond your toes.
- Lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the ground.
- Stand up straight, squeezing your glutes and leg muscles at the top.
Try this exercise with weights to sculpt your lower body muscles further.
4. Jumping Jacks
Jumping jacks are a classic cardio workout that anybody can do and is great for calorie burning. To perform a jumping jack:
- Stand tall with your feet joined together and arms by your side.
- Jump, spreading your feet slightly wider than your hip-width, and raising your arms above your head at the same time.
- Quickly return your feet together and lower your arms to your side.
- Repeat this action several times.
Jumping jacks are a good option if you don’t have much time for exercise but want to elevate your heart rate quickly.
5. Push-ups
Push-ups are one of the most well-known workouts for upper-body strength training out there, and you can do them anywhere. To perform a push-up:
- Lie on your stomach, with your hands flat on the ground, placed apart slightly wider than your shoulders.
- Tighten your mid-section and glutes, and push your body up while maintaining a straight line from from the heels to your head.
- Straighten your arms as much as possible to assume the ‘up’ position.
- Lower your body down until your chest touches the ground.
- Push yourself up again, completing one repetition of the motion.
Incorporating push-ups in your fitness routine will work on your chest, upper back, and shoulder muscles, build your core strength, and enhance your flexibility.
Conclusion
These exercises are popular for a variety of reasons, such as their versatility, usefulness in building strength, and ability to burn calories. When you add these exercises to your workout routine, you’ll see significant improvements in your overall fitness and health. Remember to adequately rest between your sets and always perform your exercises with correct form to avoid injuries. Finally, make sure to consult with a physician before starting a new workout regimen if you haven’t worked out for an extended period or have any severe health problems.