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      The Ultimate No-Gym Required Workout

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      This 6-move total-body workout will get you shredded in record time with just a few home gym essentials. To be the best you’ve been, train with Trojan.No-Gym Total-Body Workout Do the circuit at least three times a week, with only 30 seconds of rest in between each move. To really move things into high gear, you can aim for two or three circuits (we’d only recommend this for advanced athletes). Select equipment with the right weight for your strength level. Let’s get those gains!
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      1. Deep Push-UpReps: Do 8 to 12 reps

      Equipment: Trojan Extreme Door Gym Adopt a modified plank position (knees on the ground) with your hands gripping both sides of the Trojan Extreme Door Gym. Lower your chest, keeping your elbows close to your sides. See how far down you can go before pushing back up to the start. 2. Sandbag LungesReps: Do 10 reps with each leg

      Equipment: Trojan 10kg Fitness Sandbag Stand holding a sandbag across your shoulders and behind your head. Step forward with your right leg and lower yourself into a lunge position, while keeping your torso upright and looking straight ahead. Don’t let your front knee go beyond your toes, and try to let your back knee touch the ground softly. Press back up to a standing position and then do the other leg.READ MORE: The 15-Minute Tone Up Workout3. Speed DeadliftsReps: Use a barbell (total weight of 25kg) and aim for 20 reps

      Equipment: Trojan 1.8m Barbell Bar; Trojan 2.5kg Barbell DiscStart with the barbell on the floor, close to your shins (A). Use an overhand or mixed grip and hold it slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Push through your heels to lift the barbell off the floor, and don’t stop until your legs are fully straight (B). Don’t use your back to lift the weights – keep a natural curve and your core contracted throughout.4. Clean and PressReps: Do 10 reps with the bar alone or add barbell discs for extra weight

      Equipment: Trojan 1.8m Barbell BarStart in the deadlift position. Pull the bar upwards by extending your knees and moving your hips forward, while keeping your back straight and the bar close to you. Get under the bar in a squat position once it passes shoulder level. Rotate your elbows around and under the bar and rack the bar across your shoulders. Exhale as you press the bar up until your arms are straight overhead. 5. Kettlebell SwingsReps: Do 10 to 20 swings with a challenging weight

      Equipment: Trojan 8kg KettlebellHold the kettlebell in both hands (overhand grip) in between your legs, knees bent. Swing the kettlebell overhead, use a strong hip extension and drive down with your heels. Don’t stop until the kettlebell is above your head, arms extended straight upwards. 6. Burpees With Medicine Ball SlamsReps: Do 10 reps

      Equipment: Trojan 7kg Medicine BallStand while holding a medicine ball overhead. Then throw it down onto the ground as quickly as possible. When the ball lands, get into a push-up position with your chest over the medicine ball. Do one push-up (your chest needs to touch the ball) before jumping back into the start position in one explosive movement. Trojan – for health and fitness equipment that delivers on its promises. Trojan is exclusively available in Makro and Game stores countrywide, or on their websites. More

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      3 Kilojoule-Obliterating Swimming Workouts

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      Usually when you say the word “swimming” your knee-jerk reaction is to imagine all the reasons you typically avoid pool workouts: chlorine-tinted hair, soggy towels in gym bags… However, water provides 12 to 14 percent more resistance than air, so swimming has the potential to blow your current dry-land routine out of the water when it comes to cardio conditioning and total-body toning!The real key to a strong swimming workout: move past your sea turtle pace and into a fast, kilojoule-obliterating one.How? By maximising your strokes for more power and efficiency. Once you get stronger and faster in the pool, you’ll wind up a lot leaner when you get out.FreestyleGreat for core, glutes and shouldersBurns 860kJ in 30 minutes at a moderate pace (based on a 60kg woman)DO IT Think of your arms as a windmill. As you pull your front arm down into the water (the pull phase, in water-rat speak), bring your back arm out of the water behind you, over your body and slice it back into the water (the catch phase). Visualise your body’s “long axis”: a line running from the top of your head to the tips of your pedicure. It remains stable while your body tilts side to side. To flutter kick: “Point your toes and kick from your hips and glutes without bending your knees much,” says swimming coach and Ironman triathlete Desirée Ficker.HONE IT Freestyle’s power is in the catch phase. To grab the water instead of slicing back in with a straight arm, bend it into an “L” shape, elbow slightly up, hand pointed towards the pool bottom. Hold your hands flat, like paddles, says physiologist Deb Whitney, who’s worked with the American Olympic swimming team.DRILL IT Practise rolling your shoulders and hips at the same time. Get into a sidestroke position, right arm extended in the water in line with your head, left arm resting along your hip, and do six to 12 slow flutter kicks. Then do one regular freestyle stroke (left arm/right arm). Next, roll onto your left side and repeat the six to 12 kicks. Drill for a couple of laps.BREATHE EASY Resist the urge to turn and lift your head above the surface to grab air. Instead, rotate it in line with your body, inhaling when your face is halfway out of the water. (When you take a breath, keep one eye in the water, the other above it.)READ MORE: This Do-Anywhere Workout Will Have You Sweating Up A StormBackstrokeGreat for obliques and lower abs Burns 860kJ in 30 minutes at a moderate paceDO IT Think windmill again, but on your back. Bring your right arm out of the water at your waist, arc it over your head (elbow slightly bent) and slice it back into the water, leading with your pinkie (catch phase). Pull it down beneath your body (pull phase) and repeat with your left arm. As you stroke, pivot at the waist. And flutter kick with straight, not rigid, legs.HONE IT The key to supine floating is tilting your head back so it’s in line with your spine (your impulse is to look at where you’ve been – or who you’re about to smack into – but that makes your hips and butt sink). As you arc your arm back to the water, “point your palms away from your body with your pinkie facing down, so you catch, hold and pull the water as your hand goes back in,” Whitney says.DRILL IT Improve the side-to-side pivoting motion. Assume the sidestroke position, right arm extended in the water in line with your head, left arm resting along your hip. Do six to 12 flutter kicks, then turn onto your back for one backstroke (left arm/right arm). Flip to the opposite side for six to 12 more kicks. Drill for a lap or two.BREATHE EASY Keep it rhythmic. Experiment to figure out what you’re comfortable with, such as inhaling on every right arm pull, exhaling on every left arm pull.READ MORE: Top Hacks To Summer-Proof Your SkinBreaststrokeGreat for glutes, hamstrings and quads Burns 1200kJ in 30 minutes at a moderate paceDO IT Pull your knees to your chest and hold your palms together in a prayer position. Kick out and apart with your legs (think frog), then squeeze them together straight behind you. Next, push your arms out in front of you. Glide for a moment, then turn your palms down and push outward (catch phase) and down (pull phase) in a circular motion. Keep your head steady and chin forward, gazing forward as you breathe and slightly down towards the bottom of the pool at the pull phase.HONE IT Finish each kick with your ankles relaxed and your toes pointing to the bottom of the pool so your insteps can clap together. “Take advantage of the power of each kick by gliding as long as you can, your body in an arrow shape,” Whitney says. Rushing into your next stroke will slow you down by creating drag, compromising your form and making you less efficient in the water.DRILL IT Exaggerate the glide with two frog kicks, then one arm pull. On the second kick, keep your arms out in front and let yourself glide. Drill for a couple of laps.BREATHE EASY Exhale underwater; inhale as your face comes out.Looking for more? Try these swim-ready moves if you want to strengthen and tone all over. More

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      The Ultimate Core Workout For Abs Of Steel – From A Trainer

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      We get it: the ultimate way to show off your hard-earned gains in the gym is to have shimmering, chiselled abs of steel. Luckily, this ultimate core workout, made up of different abs workouts, is an intensive all-over toning routine to get you from A to Teyana Taylor hotness. Why are abs workouts important? We’re so glad you asked! Having a strong midsection is far more beneficial than an iconic crop top moment. It’s imperative for stellar posture, which supports the spine. A good posture is so much more than looking great in outfits and appearing slimmer, too. It prevents injury, aches and pains and even reduces wear and tear on your joints. Translation: you can push back purchasing a walking stick. That’s not all: doing this core workout will support your body in other ways. It naturally elevates every workout or sport, since the force you produce is far greater when your powerful midsection is behind it. A muscly midsection protects your internal organs, alleviates back pain, improves your running, burns fat… the list is endless. How to do this *ultimate* core workout Fitness Trainer and Owner of FIT BEST Training, Renché Seyffert, created this workout for all levels. Here’s how: When to do it Add this routine to the end of your regular workouts two to three times a week. This abs workout takes just 12 minutes to complete. Short on time? Pick just one or two combos and repeat for as much time as you have! How to time it For best results, try working for 50 seconds, then rest for 10 seconds between each move. But you can scale things, depending on your level. Beginners: Use the 40/20 principle. work for 40 seconds then rest for 20 seconds. Make it harder: Add extra weights to each move, either on your legs, weight plates (for advanced movers only) or use dumbbells. Ready, steady… work!READ MORE: What You Really Need To Know About Running For Weight Loss, According To ExpertsThe Ultimate Core Workout Combo 150 seconds – Shoulder taps (targeting the core and shoulders)10 seconds rest50 seconds – High plank knee circles (targeting the core and hip flexors)10 seconds rest50 seconds – Combination: 2x shoulder taps; 2x knee circles; repeat for time 10 seconds restCombo 250 seconds –  Commandos (targeting the core and arms)10 seconds rest50 seconds – Plank jacks  (targeting the core and legs, while increasing the heart rate)10 seconds rest50 seconds – Combination: 2x commandos and 2x jacks, repeat for time 10 seconds restREAD MORE: How To *Actually* Lose Belly Fat With Diet And ExerciseCombo 350 seconds – Tricep dips in bridge position (targeting the core and triceps)10 seconds rest50 seconds – Toe taps in bridge position  (targeting the core)10 seconds rest50 seconds – Combination: 1x tricep dip; 2x toe taps, repeat for time 10 seconds restREAD MORE: The 15-Minute Tone Up WorkoutCombo 450 seconds – High plank reaches (targeting the core and shoulders)10 seconds rest50 seconds – High plank leg lifts  (targeting the core and glutes)10 seconds rest50 seconds – Combination: 2x reaches; 2x leg lifts, repeat for time 10 seconds restCheck out the entire workout here:
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      The Best Yoga Flow For Relaxation

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      Who’s ready for a quick 2-minute relaxation sesh? Pick me! It’s that time of year when burnout, stress and end-of-year blues creep in. If you’re struggling with focus or feeling overwhelmed, this yoga flow is exactly what you need to unwind. Woosah!Time: 2 minutesEquipment: Yoga matGood for: RelaxationInstructions: Flow from one pose to the next. Complete the yoga flow as many times as you’d like. You can also hold each pose for more than one breath, to make the flow a bit longer.Crocodile PoseHow to: Lie on your stomach with your legs extended and spread slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Fold your arms on the ground in front of you, and place your forehead on your arms. Stay here for one breath, then move to the next pose.Cat-Cow PoseHow to: Come onto all fours, into a tabletop position with your hands directly under your shoulders, knees below your hips. As you inhale, lift your head and your tailbone as you arch your spine down and open your chest up, coming into cow pose. Then exhale, tuck your tailbone, curl your spine, and lower your head into cat pose. Go back and forth three times, then continue to the next pose.Child’s PoseHow to: From all fours in a tabletop position, inhale and bend your knees, bringing your butt back onto your heels. Keep your arms extended in front of you. Stay here for one breath, then move to the next pose.READ MORE: Consider This Yoga HIIT Workout A Total-Body ShredCat-Cow PoseHow to: Come back onto all fours, into a tabletop position with your hands directly under your shoulders, knees below your hips. As you inhale, lift your head and your tailbone as you arch your spine down and open your chest up, coming into cow pose. Then exhale, tuck your tailbone, curl your spine, and lower your head into cat pose. Go back and forth three times, then continue to the next pose.Child’s PoseHow to: From all fours in a tabletop position, inhale and bend your knees, bringing your butt back onto your heels. Keep your arms extended in front of you. Stay here for one breath, then move to the next pose.Upward DogHow to: From a low hover position, extend your arms and lift your upper body, with an arch in your upper back, and your chest open and lifted. Your legs should be fully extended, the tops of your feet against your mat, and your thighs lifted a few inches off your mat. Stay here for one breath, then move to the next pose.READ MORE: Boost Your Morning Routine With This Easy 15-Minute Yoga FlowCrocodile PoseHow to: Lie on your stomach with your legs extended and spread slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Fold your arms on the ground in front of you, and place your forehead on your arms. Stay here for one breath. Complete the entire flow as many times as you’d like.This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com. More

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      The 15-Minute Tone Up Workout

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      “This workout is simple, but it’ll seriously crank your heart rate and metabolism,” says strength and conditioning specialist Jen Ator.You’ll also increase your flexibility and core strength and sculpt your butt, legs and shoulders, so you can get back to that sun lounger asap. Make this set your travel go-to, or do it three times a week as a super-efficient workout. Starting with the first exercise, perform as many reps as you can in 50 seconds, rest for 10, then move on to the next. After all four moves, rest for one minute. Repeat two more times for three circuits total.You’ll need: Floor space; a mat (optional)Marching Glute Bridge

      Lie face-up with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor, arms by your sides. Press through your heels to raise your hips so your body forms a straight line from shoulders to knees (A). Raise your right foot, knee bent at 90 degrees, until your shin is parallel to the floor (B). Hold for three seconds, then lower your foot and repeat with the left. Alternate.READ MORE: This Do-Anywhere Workout Will Have You Sweating Up A StormAlternating Reverse Lunge

      Stand with feet hip-width apart, hands clasped behind your head (A). Step back with your right leg and lower your body until your left knee is bent 90 degrees (B). Push back up to start. That’s one rep. Switch legs and repeat.Plank Builders

      Get into plank position, forearms on the floor, elbows under your shoulders, legs extended behind you (A). Place your right hand flat on the floor (B), and then your left, straightening your arms to push-up position (C). Return to start by lowering onto your right, then left, forearms. Repeat, leading with your left hand; alternate.READ MORE: Women’s Health Fitness Special 2024Skater Hop

      Cross your left leg behind your right and lower into a half-squat, your right arm out to the side, left arm across your hips (A). Hop to the left, switching your legs and arms (B). That’s one rep. Keep hopping quickly, alternating from side to side.Moves extracted from The Women’s Health Big Book of 15-Minute Workouts. More

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      Do you have high cortisol levels? 5 simple ways to combat it

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      Life

      by Ruman Baig
      2 mins ago

      Feeling frazzled? You’re not alone. Daily pressures can send cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, into overdrive.
      For women, chronically high cortisol can disrupt sleep, worsen PMS symptoms, and even contribute to weight gain. But don’t despair! Here are 5 science-backed strategies to keep your cortisol levels in check and your well-being soaring:
      Power Down for Power Up

      Sleep is the ultimate stress soother. Aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night. Create a relaxing bedtime routine, including winding down electronics at least an hour before bed.
      Why it Works: According to a study published in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, just one night of short sleep can significantly elevate cortisol levels.
      Breathe Deeply, De-Stress Completely

      Deep breathing activates the relaxation response, a natural antidote to cortisol’s fight-or-flight effects. Practice belly breathing for just 5 minutes daily. Inhale slowly through your nose, feeling your belly expand. Exhale slowly through pursed lips.
      Science Says So: A review published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology highlights the effectiveness of deep breathing in reducing cortisol levels and promoting relaxation.
      Nourish Your Body, Tame Your Stress

      A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains provides sustained energy and minimizes blood sugar fluctuations that can trigger cortisol spikes. Limit processed foods, sugary drinks, and excessive caffeine, which can worsen anxiety and stress.
      Move It or Lose It (the Stress, That Is!)

      Exercise is a potent stress reliever. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week. Physical activity helps burn off stress hormones and promotes the production of feel-good endorphins.
      The Science of Sweat: A meta-analysis published in the journal Sports Medicine concluded that regular exercise is an effective strategy for reducing cortisol levels and improving stress management.
      Connect and Be Kind

      Social connection is a powerful buffer against stress. Nurture relationships with loved ones, engage in activities you enjoy, and consider volunteering. Acts of kindness boost both your mood and the well-being of others, creating a positive feedback loop.
      By incorporating these tips into your daily routine, you can effectively manage your cortisol levels and cultivate a calmer, healthier you. Remember, consistency is key. Be patient, celebrate your progress, and enjoy the journey to a more balanced and stress-free life!
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Unsplash, Pexel & feature image: @xun1020 More

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      This Do-Anywhere Workout Will Have You Sweating Up A Storm

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      When you have to travel or prior commitments (whether it’s your family, kids, work or friends) are making it impossible to get to the gym, it’s always great to have a simple, do-anywhere workout tucked into your back pocket. This one, from SWEAT 1000‘s Andrew Rothschild, is perfect for any space, even a smaller-than-ideal hotel room or the beach, and it will get your heart rate up — just what you need to get all those endorphins pumping and calories burning.Do each exercise move as described, working as hard as you can and resting as indicated. If you’re looking for even more of a burn, repeat the workout from the top for just under 25 minutes of intense calorie burning.The Do-Anywhere WorkoutWarm Up1 minute: bouncing side to side

      1 minute: jumping jacksLower-body WorkoutDo all four exercises in a row, sticking to the time frames. Recover for one minute, then start from the top. Repeat three times. Work hard for the recoveries and use the rest to reset and refocus.40 seconds: squats

      20 seconds: squat pulses

      20 seconds: squat jumps

      40 seconds: reverse lunges, alternating legsREAD MORE: Sculpt A Great Butt With This Home Booty WorkoutFull-Body And Core WorkoutDo all three exercises in a row, sticking to the time frames. Recover for 30 seconds, then start again. Repeat three times. Once again, maximum effort will get you maximum results, so push hard during the exercises and work for those recoveries.30 seconds: 2 push-ups, 4 mountain climbers

      30 seconds: burpees

      30 seconds: cross mountain climbersREAD MORE: 30 Plank Variations That Will Transform Your Core From A TrainerGetting into fitness and looking for more inspo? Buy a copy of The Women’s Health Big Book Of Walking Workouts on sale now! More

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      Total-Body Toning Spring Workout

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      When you’ve fallen out of the habit of making fit and healthy choices, it’s way too easy to give up on ever fitting into last summer’s dresses again. Cue a montage of takeaways and serious couch time – it’s not the most action-packed mix. But here’s a crazy idea: why not set yourself up for success? It comes down to forming a sensible – and realistic – plan for staying on track. First step: banish the “I can’ts”. Then commit to consistency with our fool-proof fitness strategy.This plan, created by personal trainer Adam Rosante, author of The 30-Second Body: Eat Clean. Train Dirty. Live Hard, couldn’t be easier: alternate between the strength-training and cardio workouts five days a week. Because both take just 30 minutes or less – and because you get two rest days each week to use whenever you need them – you can shave off kilojoules and get fit while still managing to get in some QT with the couch.Total-Body ToningThese dynamic moves build muscle and burn fat all over. Perform the first pair of exercises, moving from 1A to 1B without resting. Rest 60 seconds, then repeat the same pair twice. Continue to pairs 2 and 3 and repeat this pattern. Move 4 doesn’t have a “partner”, so rest for 60 seconds after completing all the reps, then repeat it twice. During week two, drop your rest breaks to 50 seconds; in week three, lower to 40 seconds and finish week four with 30-second breathers.1A DUMBBELL THRUSTERStand with your heels shoulder-width apart, toes turned out slightly. Hold a pair of dumbbells at shoulder level. Sit your hips back and lower into a squat (A). Press through your heels to stand, pushing the weights directly overhead (B). Pause, then return to start. That’s one rep. Do 12.1B SINGLE-LEG DUMBBELL DEADLIFT TO BICEPS CURLStand with your feet hip-width apart and hold a dumbbell in each hand, arms hanging in front of you, palms facing in. Hinge forward at the hips to lower your torso while raising your right leg behind you (A). Squeeze glutes to return to start, then rotate your palms out and curl both dumbbells to your shoulders (B). Pause, then lower dumbbells back down. That’s one rep. Do six, then repeat on the other side.2A RESISTANCE-BAND PULL-DOWNLoop a resistance band around a high, sturdy object; kneel on the floor and grab the handles with each hand, arms raised directly overhead (A). Brace your core, then pull your elbows down to your sides, bringing the handles in front of your chest (B). Pause, then return to start. That’s one rep. Do 12.2B SIDE PLANK WITH REACH UNDERLie on your left side with your legs straight. Prop yourself up on your left hand so your body forms a diagonal line. Reach your right hand upward (A). Slowly tuck your right arm under your body (B). Return to start. That’s one rep. Do six, then switch sides and repeat.READ MORE: This Quick 15-Minute Morning Workout Is The Wake-Up You Need3A SUMO SQUAT TO HIGH PULLStand with your feet more than shoulder-width apart, toes turned out; hold a dumbbell in each hand, arms hanging in front of you, palms facing in. Sit your hips back and bend your knees to lower into a squat (A). Press through your heels to stand, bending your elbows to pull the weights up to your shoulders (B). Pause, then lower back to start. That’s one rep. Do 12.3B V-UPLie on your back, arms extended overhead (A). In one motion, brace your core and lift your chest and legs to sit up into a V, reaching your arms forward so they’re parallel to the floor (B). Slowly reverse the movement to return to start. That’s one rep. Do 12.READ MORE: Build Killer Abs With This Quick Core Workout4 DUMBBELL PUSH-UP TO ROWGet into push-up position with your hands resting on dumbbells, feet hip-width apart (A). Keeping your back flat, bend your elbows to lower your chest towards the floor (B); press back to start, then pull one weight up towards the side of your chest (C). Lower the weight, then repeat with the other arm. That’s one rep. Do 12. More