Gut Health and Staying Active: How to Adjust?
Times are strange, we get it. Many of your favorite restaurants, gyms and even stores are closed. We are adjusting our routines to try and keep our daily habits aligned. It may be a struggle to maintain those routines that you have worked hard to build.
You may have heard that 70% of your immunity is in your gut, but what does that mean? When your gut is in a compromised state, that causes the immune cells in the gut to be weakened and more susceptible to viruses and other immune disorders. Yes, there are conditions and ages that are immunocompromised, but there are also lifestyle, diet and lack of nutritional supplements that expose the gut and body to those various factors.
Balancing life mentally, physically and emotionally can already be difficult and to throw a wrench in the equation can cause digestive distress. There are simple things we can continue to do to keep our gut in check because right now keeping our gut healthy is extremely important.
Here are some equipment free, super simple workouts to do at home to stay active and keep your gut happy:
1. Bodyweight Squat
Stand as tall as you can with your feet spread slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Hold your arms straight out in front of your body at shoulder level, so that your arms parallel to the floor.
Keep your torso as upright as you can for the entire movement, with your lower back slightly arched. Brace your abs, and lower your body as far as you can by pushing your hips back and bending your knees. Pause, then push yourself back to the starting position. That's one repetition. Do 15 to 20 repetitions.
2. Incline Push-Up
Assume a push-up position, but place your hands placed on a raised surface — such as a box, bench, ottoman or one of the steps of your stairs — instead of the floor. Your body should form a straight line from your ankles to your head. Keeping your body rigid, lower your body until your upper arms dip below your elbows.
Pause, and then push yourself back to the starting position as quickly as possible. (The higher the surface on which you place your hands, the easier the exercise becomes — you can even lean against a wall if you need to.) If the incline push-up is too easy, do it the old-fashioned way, with your hands on the floor. Do 12 to 15 repetitions.
3. Hip Raise
Lie on your back on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Place your arms out to your sides at a 45-degree angle, your palms facing up. Now try to make your tummy as skinny as possible and hold it that way — this gives you a tight core — while breathing normally. That's the starting position.
Keeping your core tight, squeeze your glutes and raise your hips so your body forms a straight line from your shoulders to your knees. Pause for five seconds — squeezing your glutes tightly the entire time—then lower body back to the starting position. Do 10 repetitions.
4. Side Plank
Lie on your right side with your knees straight. Prop your upper body on your right elbow and forearm, which should be directly below your right shoulder. Place your left hand on your left hip. Try to make your tummy as skinny as possible and hold it that way — this gives you a tight core — while breathing normally.
Then raise your hips until your body forms a straight line from your ankles to your shoulders. With your core tight, hold this position for 30 seconds. Roll onto your other side and repeat.
5. Floor Y-T-I Raises
This is a three-exercise combination move. You'll simply perform 8 to 12 repetitions of each exercise, one after the other without resting. So do 8 to 12 reps of the Floor Y raise, followed immediately by 8 to 12 reps of the Floor T raise, followed immediately by 8 to 12 reps of the Floor I raise.
Modify these workouts to best fit your needs. Make sure to take rest breaks between sets and stay hydrated! Feel free to share workouts that you have been doing at home. Read more: http://www.oprah.com/health/the-no-equipment-workout-you-can-do-at-home/all#ixzz6HoEjDtN0
