Doing your exercises with the help of
elastic bands is a great way to get impressive results without the hassle of having to go to the gym and the expenses that go with it. With elastic bands, you can have a complete and total body workout even if you have to work late at the office or if you are stuck at your hotel on a business trip. It is very difficult to get back on track with your workout once you miss a session or two, thus having your portable elastic bands with you will keep you in great shape no matter what comes up.
A basic
exercise you can do with elastic bands is the biceps curl. This is a good workout for toning and strengthening your arms. To do the biceps curls, simply step on your elastic bands with your feet aligned with your shoulders and your hands gripping one end of the elastic bands on each side. Start with your arms relaxed at your sides then slowly raise your hands, both the right and the left at the same time, bending at your elbows until your forearms are parallel to the floor. Hold the position for 3 counts then slowly lower your hands. 3 sets of 10 repetitions each is the norm. You can add or subtract from this to suit your health level.
You can also perform lateral deltoid raises with elastic bands. This exercise will be very good for your back and shoulder muscles. It even engages your triceps, thus also toning your arms. To do lateral deltoid raises, stand on your elastic bands the same way you would when you do biceps curls. Instead of having your arms hanging at your sides though, bring your hands up with your elbows at a 90˚ angle and your triceps parallel to the floor. Slowly push your arms up while grasping the elastic bands until your arms are fully stretched and your hands touch each other above your head. Hold the position in place so you can feel the tension in your muscles before slowly lowering them back to the starting position. Do 4 sets of 10 repetitions each for this exercise because it involves more muscles than the biceps curls. Furthermore, the muscles involved in this exercise are much bigger than the biceps, thus they need more stimuli.
To work your legs using your elastic bands, you can perform kickbacks. This exercise works your hamstring, your quadriceps, and your glutes (your butt muscles). Again, you start this exercise the same way you would start a biceps curl. But since you are going to work out your legs, keep your hands firmly at your sides as they will serve as the anchors of the elastic bands. Once your hands are ready, slowly kick the elastic bands backward with your right foot. Keep your back straight and remember to keep your hands firmly in position. Do 4 sets of 10 repetitions each for the right leg then switch and do the same for your left leg.
