Hi all!
This is a quick workout (to be done with or without a mini resistance band) from US husband and wife team Daniel and Kelli a.k.a. Fitness Blender. They have plenty and varied workouts on their YouTube channel, worth a look!
ā I thought this was a little tricky to follow, but in 10 minutes it gave me a great workout - raised my heart rate and I could feel the target areas getting some solid training!
Fitness Blender workouts have a nice simple presentation - one person (Kelli in this case) against a white background. There's a timer on the right that shows the duration of the entire workout, plus a countdown above it for each exercise. In the top left-hand corner, as with Holly Dolke's workout, a short demo of each upcoming workout is displayed. The one thing I don't like about the layout is the display of calorie count in the bottom right-hand corner - I suggest you ignore this, it is pointless and misleading! There is no music on this workout, which makes sense because Kelli encourages you to go at your own pace, so it would not be possible to follow a beat!
There are 10 sets of 50 second exercises, with 10 second breaks in between. The exercises target mainly gluteals, outer thighs, and quadriceps. I'd say they are particularly good for runners, but of course will help anyone because hip/upper leg strength is so important for mobility and balance, particularly as we age. I found the exercises a tad difficult to follow, and I think I would have been better off whizzing through the video for a preview š I also found I could have done with a tiny bit more space than that which I was using, but then it was a very small space! An area of about 130 cm x 190 cm would be perfect. All but one of the exercises uses an optional mini resistance band, placed around the calves or ankles (a bit more about resistance bands below). The exercises are great without a band, but with it I really felt as though I had worked for much more than 10 minutes!
Plenty of sensible modifications were given for each workout, making it suitable for all levels of experience. Be honest and careful as you work out, particularly if you are using a mini band. Take care if you have any niggles, and always listen to your body.
Give it a try!!
Resistance bands
These add weight to your workouts without cluttering up your house! There are many different types of band and you can use them to work all parts of the body, but the mini ones are a great start for hip and leg workouts. They often come in a set offering a range of tensile forces, so you can pick the one that works best for you. These are the ones I bought - they've gone up in price since, but you may well be able to find cheaper!
