You don’t need a home gym or fancy equipment to get rid of droopy glutes, jiggly thighs or unwanted dimples. Personal trainer Carla Fields demonstrates basic chair exercises that will help you look good in your skinny jeans and miniskirts this spring and summer.
Crescent kick
Stand behind a chair at arm’s length.
Contract your abs and keep your fists up.
Lift and extend your leg up and around the chair. Be careful not to knock down the chair.
Repeat other leg. Try 15 on each leg.
Chair squat
Trains quads, glutes and hamstrings.
Sit in the chair with your feet hip-width apart.
Extend your arms straight out in front of you (using hand weights, if desired) and hold your stomach in tight (contract your abs).
Stand up and sit down. Do not lean or allow your knees to extend over your toes.
Do three sets of 20.
Ab lift
Trains abdominals and quads.
Sit on the edge of the chair, lean back holding the back of the chair. Keep your stomach tight (contract your abs).
Extend both legs, flexing your feet.
Lift both legs at the same time.
Lower legs slowly, and tap the floor with your heels.
Lift and lower until you get a burn in your quads and abs.
Do three sets of 20.
Quad lift
Trains quads and abdominals.
Sit on the edge of the chair and lean back. Hold on to the back of the chair and keep your stomach tight (contract your abs).
Extend one leg, flexing your foot.
Lift leg off the floor; then slowly lower it and tap the floor with your heel.
Repeat, raising and lowering the same leg until you get a burn (30 repetitions).
Repeat with other leg.
Carla Fields is a certified personal trainer and gym owner.
