Health ends up taking a backseat in the midst of daily chaos. Instead of watching another rerun of The Office, take 15 minutes to recharge. When you’re organized on the inside, it’s easier for the rest to fall in place.
Quick Fit 15-Minute Exercise Program
Rick Bradley has developed an innovative 15-minute corporate fitness program called “Quick Fit.” You don’t even have to change into workout clothes—just come in, do your thing, and get back to your busy day. Here are the four key components of Rick’s “Quick Fit” routine:
1. Aerobic activity: 10 minutes.
Bradley’s goal is for you to do 10 minutes of continuous aerobic activity, but what you do is up to you. He finds most people like to walk, often on the treadmill—it’s easy, requires no special training, and it’s a comfortable, familiar activity. But others hop on a stationary bike, stair climber, or elliptical machine, or choose to walk outside or in the hallways. He wants you to start comfortably, but during the activity move up to a brisk walking pace or effort level—enough to cause noticeable breathing, but still allow you to talk.
2. Abdominal exercise: 50 Half bent-knee sit-ups. 1 minute.
Lay on an exercise mat or the floor with your back flat, your knees bent to about a right angle, and your feet flat on the floor. Pull your chin to your chest and keep it there, and extend your arms and hands, with your fingers pointed toward the tops of your knees. Now slowly lift the shoulders off the mat four to six inches, bringing your hands to your knees, and come back down. That’s one; repeat 49 more times.
3. Strength moves: 3 minutes.
1. Chest press. Lay with your back flat on the floor and arms extended out to your sides, bent at a right angle at the elbow, forearms pointed toward the ceiling, hands holding dumbbells. Press the weights up toward the ceiling, fully extending arms, then lower. Do 10 to 15.
2. Curls. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms straight down at your sides, palms facing the body, holding dumbbells. Bend arms at the elbow, keeping upper arm still but raising the weight to the front of the shoulder. While lifting the weight, rotate to the palm of your hand faces up during the curl; slowly lower weight. Do 10 to 15 on each side, alternating.
3. Shoulder raises. Stand with arms straight down in front of you, palms facing together, holding dumbbells. Keeping elbows slightly bent, raise your arms straight out to your sides, so you look like a large letter “T;” slowly lower weight. Do 10 to 15 repetitions. (Note that you may use substantially less weight for this than for curls or chest press.)
4. Pull-ups. Place hands slightly wider than shoulder width on a pull-up bar, palms facing forward. Pull your chin up to the height of the bar, and lower slowly. 10-15 repetitions.
5. Dips. Place hands on parallel bars, with arms straight up, supporting your full body weight. Lower until elbows are at a right angle, then press back up. 10-15 repetitions.
6. Chin-ups. Place hands slightly wider than shoulder width on a pull-up bar, palms facing back. Pull your chin up to the height of the bar, and lower slowly. 10-15 repetitions.
4. Flexibility: 1 minute.
1. Side bends. Stand tall, feet shoulder width apart, hands on hips. Then reach up to the sky with the left hand, bend to the right from the waist, bringing the left hand and arm overhead and reaching to the right. Slowly return to start with hands on hips, then bring right hand up and lean and reach to the left. Continue alternating, reaching and leaning to the opposite side with each hand, with the arm fully extended, for 30 seconds.
2. Sit and reach. Sit upright on the floor with legs straight in front of you. Extend your arms straight, reaching toward your toes, and gently lean forward. You do not have to reach your toes—just stretch to the point that you feel a gentle tension, but no discomfort. Hold for 30 seconds, and then relax. You’re done!
Found on PBS.org
photo: Dennis Todorut
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