Exercises With Elastic Bands
Adding resistance to your workout can make it more effective and help you tone quickly. Elastic bands are an easy and affordable way to intensify your workout. These bands are long, narrow, stretchy and may (or not) have handles. Lighter weight bands offer less resistance, while heavier ones have a higher level of resistance. Use elastic bands during walking workouts, stretching, Pilates or yoga.
Upper Body Exercises
A resistance band offers an easy and convenient upper body workout at home or away. Do bicep curls by standing on the resistance band with your feet shoulder-width apart. Grasp the ends of the elastic band with an underhand grasp and curl to work your biceps. Work your triceps by holding one end of the band behind your back in a firm grip. Reach over your shoulder and catch the other end of the band in hand. Extend the upper arm to work the triceps muscle. Kneel on the floor on one knee. The other knee should be bent at a 90-degree angle. Place the elastic band under the arch of the upright foot. To work and sculpt your shoulders, pull the band up toward your collarbone with your elbows pointing up.
Abdominal Workouts
Adding resistance can help to sculpt and tone your abs. Wrap your elastic band around a post or another stationary object. Hold onto the band as you do curls, sit-ups or other abdominal exercises. Make your workout more difficult by doing the sit-ups or curls on a balance ball instead of the floor. Slim your oblique muscles and tone those love handles by placing the band under one foot. Grab the free end with both hands and swing your arms up and over the opposite shoulder, twisting your torso as you do so. Repeat on the other side.
Lower Body Band Exercises
Use your elastic bands to work your hips, thighs and legs. Do skater squats to tone your hamstrings and glutes by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent on the band. Hold one end of the band in each hand. Step out laterally to one side and squat. Hold for a count of 2, then step back. Work both sides. Do pelvic lifts with an elastic band. Lie on your back, knees bent and feet flexed. Lift your pelvis and hips off the ground, then place the band tightly across your pelvis, holding the ends snugly in place with each hand. Lift and lower, keeping the band in place to work your abs, glutes and hamstring muscles.
