Morning Exercise #3 - SQUATS

Morning Exercise #3 - SQUATS

from "Rise and Shine: Top 5 Morning Exercise Benefits"
By Jennifer Gruenemay, ACE-Certified, Lifescript Staff Writer
Published January 17, 2011

Wake-Up Call #3: It’s your choice to be a night owl or an early bird.

Tick-tock. You have an internal clock that thrives on routine. It’s your circadian rhythm, and it regulates your body on a 24-hour cycle.

Give yourself a strict bedtime, force yourself to wake up when your alarm goes off (no snoozing!), and exercise each day – even if it’s only for 10 minutes.

Over time – a few days for some, a few weeks for others – your body will learn the new routine. It will gently wake you up, no earsplitting alarm required. You’ll feel rested and energized, and will actually start looking forward to your workout.

Get yourself in gear tomorrow morning with lateral squats. This move requires a lot of balance and hip stabilization – a job perfect for your gluteus medius.

Remember, this muscle is positioned not where you consider your butt to be, but rather on the side of your hip. Be sure to keep your hips and shoulders in line, and don’t allow your knee to drop forward over your toes:

Step 1: With your hands on your hips, stand with your feet about a foot wider than shoulder-width apart.

Step 2: Squat down to the side toward one leg, while keeping the opposite leg straight, through a count of 10 seconds.

Step 3: At the maximum tension point, hold for 2 seconds. Return to the starting position through a count of 10 seconds.

Step 4: Alternate sides without resting. Perform 2 reps on each side.

MY THOUGHTS

this is not going to give me reason to get out of bed early. i think this is like side lunges. i hate them. side,forward, any kind of lunge. hey, that's just me. don't let me discourage you.