We often find ourselves somewhere where there’s limited time and/or equipment for a good workout. Or, if you’re like me, the thought of hitting the tiny gym in the corner of the hotel and spending time on a treadmill is just not appealing at all. For those times, here are nine relatively simple exercises that’ll give you a full-body, aerobic and anaerobic workout. Pick three to five of the movements and work them in sets. Let me know how they work out for you!
A special “thank you” goes to my wonderful brother-in-law (we call him my Chief Brother-In-Law, or CBIL) for being a good sport about modeling for me on our vacation.
1. Push-Ups
It’s hard to beat this time-tested and universally-respected movement that needs no equipment whatsoever!
[youtube=http://youtu.be/JrOg-MGTK6Q]
2. Hindu Push-ups
The so-called Hindu push-up is a cross between the classic pushup and a handstand push-up. Give this one a try; it’ll surprise you by its difficulty!
[youtube=http://youtu.be/zm5gB-KU0PQ]
3. Crunches
This variation on the classic sit-up is a killer core workout.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/4w-3Hgoe4TM]
4. Dips
Dips are great for the triceps and shoulders. Admittedly, you need something to dip from but something as simple as a chair will work.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/h0CPUo5Q8MU]
5. Burpees
These are arguably the most despised of movements because they’re so deceptively difficult. Give twenty of these babies a try and then imagine how it’d feel to have to do 100!
[youtube=http://youtu.be/nVoIZ1Ycwqs]
6. Jump Squats
Varying on the traditional squat by adding a jump at the top of the movement, the jump squat is a great heart pumper.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/c1Z3_3zEE1U]
7. Lunges
This is another great movement for the lower body that also gets your heart pumping.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/e8SdeFhYyms]
8. Single & Double Unders
It’s hard to beat these jumprope movements for an all-around aerobic workout. Admittedly, they do require you to carry a rope with you but, alas, that fits in minimal carry-on space. Be patient with double unders as they’re not as easy as they look.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/ErwAAvPDv0U]
9. Pull-Ups
OK, I’m cheating a bit here: we need to have a pulling movement to complete the set and, without some sort of apparatus, it’s hard to pull oneself up. So, you’ll have to get creative like we did here.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/hNcGoj0gIaY]
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