Dec 14 2011
Lunges – Core Exercises
Lunges – A Favorite Core Exercise
There are many different types of lunges! Reverse lunges, jumping lunges, walking lunges, jump split lunges, and many, many more! What a fabulous exercise! It is one of my all time favorite core exercises, because, as always, I love to work the core! Core exercises is what it is all about! People think when they are doing a leg exercise like this, that they are only working the legs, but, that just isn’t true. When performing this type of core exercise, we are actually engaging the abdominal muscles, ALL of the leg muscles, and we are also working something extremely important for aging that most people don’t think about! We are working and training our balance. Balance is the key to aging healthy, and preventing falls later in life. Preventing falls is essential to living a healthy balanced INDEPENDENT life. Another reason I absolutely LOVE this exercise is that you don’t need any equipment! Which makes this a fabulous part of your home workout routines!
How To Do Lunges
As you see in the video demonstration here, it’s important to step out very wide and make sure the front leg is in a 90 degree angle. Once you have stepped out and you have your balance, drop your body straight down. Do not lean forward over your front leg. Keep your body straight up and down, and keep your shoulders directly over your hips. Beautiful lunge!
Jumping Lunges
If you have bad knees, please avoid this exercise! There is no reason to do any jumping on bad knees. However, the benefit to this is that it is a ballistic movement, or also called a plyometric. This builds different types of muscle fibers. We have fast twitch muscle fibers, and slow twitch muscle fibers. By jumping and landing, we are building endurance, strength, as well as developing different types of muscle fibers. We are also developing a different level of balance.
Reverse Lunges
In the video, you see Janise stepping forward and lunging and then stepping back. To do a reverse lunge, you simple step back behind you and then go into the lunge. From there, you step your foot back to a standing position, and place your other foot behind you and then drop down into the lunge. Keep the same proper form, stepping wide and keeping your shoulders over your hips. No leaning on your front leg.
