6 Great Exercises You May Have Forgotten About

Is your workout made of exercises that you have been doing for years? Do you think your physical progress is stalling? Does working out no longer get you pumped? If you nodded yes to any of these, you could be suffering from workout boredom.

By performing the same exercises over and over again, not only are you bored but your body is bored too! Which means your body is no longer being challenged and you are likely not achieving the results you want. Combat workout boredom by incorporating these six exercises into your workout routine:

1. Lunges
Changing the type of lunge you perform is an easy way to beat workout boredom because there are plenty of variations to choose from. Try lateral lunges to target the inner and outer thigh muscles. Or curtsey lunges to improve your balance and coordination. Or the Bulgarian split lunge which provides a fuller range of motion and targets the hamstring muscles.

2. Kettlebell Swings
The kettlebell swing is a full body move that works everything from your core, to your shoulders, to your legs, to your back. On top of conditioning these muscles, kettlebell swings increase your heart rate to provide an excellent cardiovascular workout with minimal impact on your lower body.

3. Single-Leg Squats
Performing single leg squats forces your body to work harder and will develop the glute and adductor muscles more so than the traditional squat. By isolating each leg in turn, you are ensuring each leg does the same amount of work and develops muscles evenly.

4. Calf Raises
Do you play basketball or volleyball and want to increase your vertical jump? Doing calf raises can help you jump higher. Not into a particular sport? Well, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to worry about your calf muscles – they provide support for your ankle and play a role in your overall balance, so be sure to include a couple of sets in your workout.

5. Plank Jacks
Holding plank is great for your core, but challenge your core even more by adding a jumping jack motion with your feet. On top of working your core, plank jacks tone your shoulders, arms, back, thighs and legs.

6. Weighted Side Bends
The oblique muscles can be one of the hardest muscles in your abdominals to strengthen, but weighted side bends target them perfectly. Not only does the side bending motion help trim your waist line which makes you look thinner, but it also engages the muscles along the spine and in the lower back to help improve your posture.

The easiest way to beat workout boredom is to perform exercises that challenge you and your body. Not sure how to perform these exercises or incorporate them into your workout? Book an appointment with one of our physiotherapists who can educate you on proper form and help you develop a customized workout plan.

These exercises are suggestions for individuals already following a regular exercise regimen. However if you experience pain while were performing any of the above exercises, please stop and consult a doctor or physiotherapist. For those recovering from injury or are currently suffering from any type of pain, please consult a doctor or physiotherapist before trying any of the above exercises.