As your parents grow old, their joints start aching, and bones become weak. While walking and simple daily activities are great for keeping them active, it is also important for them to strengthen their bones. Fitness expert and nutritionist Rishabh, who often shared workout videos to help his followers become active, recently shared a clip in which he shared five exercises he designed for his mother to help her strengthen her knees at 62.
Fitness expert shared 5 exercises he designed for his mom to build strong knees.
5 exercises to strengthen your parents’ knees
Rishabh shared the clip with the caption, “5 exercises I get my mother to do to have her build strong knees. Share this with your parents, friends and anyone else who can make use of this routine. I hope this helps.” He even shared the steps to the workouts. All you will need is a chair. Here are the five exercises he suggested:
1. Calf raises
To do the calf raises, the fitness expert made his mother move the entire weight onto the toes while going up. While coming down back to her heels, he made her slow down the descent. He suggested doing the exercise for 18 to 20 repetitions.
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2. Hip flexor lift
Take a chair and sit down. Now, lift one leg at a time using only the hip. Keep alternating for 20 repetitions.
3. Seated toe raises
Make your parents sit closer to the edge of the chair and ask them to plant their feet on the ground. Now, they will have to raise their toes completely off the ground, as much as they can manage. Slowly bring the toes back down and do the exercise for 20 repetitions.
4. Knee extensions
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Place your feet firmly on the ground while sitting on a chair. Then, extend your kneed parallel to the ground, one at a time. Pause your leg for a fraction of a second in the air, and then apply some resistance on your parent’s leg from the top. Ask them to push it back. Then, slowly bring the leg down to the ground and repeat the exercise.
5. Hamstring curls
For this exercise, stand while holding the back of the chair for support and bend the knee to a 90-degree angle [parallel to the ground]. Then, do the same drill. Apply some pressure on the leg and ask them to push back and slowly bring their leg down. Repeat.
Things to keep in mind
In the end, the coach added that he finishes off the routine by asking his mom to do a 5-minute backward walk. Additionally, he suggested that if you are assisting your parents, make sure the surroundings are safe and clean to avoid any injuries.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
We don’t report on every TikTok trend, but when they’re good — they’re good. Recently, creator Annabel Blue went viral for a “lazy ballerina conditioning routine” video she posted on the social media platform. She demonstrates stretching exercises, like thread-the-needle and downward-facing dog, and strengthening exercises, like planks and glute bridges.
But her workout routine isn’t what has the video’s comments section talking. It’s the fact that she’s working out in her pajamas. “I will ALWAYS work out in my PJs,” one user writes. “Love a PJ workout,” another user adds. And you know what? We wholeheartedly agree.
This routine is reminiscent of cozy cardio, a workout trend that emphasizes wearing your most comfortable clothing (pajamas encouraged!) and doing gentle forms of movement, like walking on your walking pad while watching your favorite movie.
“Cozy cardio offers a nice alternative to this ‘go hard’ punishing mentality that many people associate with fitness progress,” Alexa Mieses Malchuk, MD, MPH, previously told PS. “You can be kinder to yourself and still reach your fitness goals.”
Indeed, moving your body doesn’t have to be extreme and uncomfortable to yield results, and there’s actually some research to back this up. A small 2017 study in Physiological Reports found that moderate-intensity exercise may have the same benefits as more rigorous workouts, like improved insulin sensitivity, metabolism, and fat loss and lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
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Not to mention, there’s evidence that at-home workouts are a great alternative to gym workouts because they, too, improve muscle strength, muscle endurance, muscle power, and balance.
The bottom line? If working out in an oversized T-shirt and flowy pants makes you more likely to want to exercise — even if you’re not doing something super intense — that’s a whole lot better than the alternative of not exercising at all. In fact, searching “pajamas workout” on TikTok results in 11.5 million posts.
So, the next time you want to do a workout and don’t feel like changing out of the clothes you slept in the night before, rest assured you can still reap the benefits of exercise in your comfiest attire. Absolutely no judgement here.
Danielle Zickl is a freelance writer who has 10 years of experience covering fitness, health, and nutrition. You can find her work here on PS, and in many other publications including Self, Well+Good, Runner’s World, Outside Run, Peloton, Women’s Health, and Men’s Fitness.
The Wim Hof breathing exercise is believed to reduce stress and enhance immune response. However, this intense exercise can lead to dizziness if not performed correctly.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu talked about how she starts her day with a gratitude journal and breathing exercises.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu is one of those few celebrities who often uses her social media to talk about fitness and wellness. The actor recently appeared on a podcast and gave a glimpse of her morning routine that focuses on starting your day on a note of gratitude and mindfulness. She mentioned the multiple breathing and meditation exercises that she practices in the morning, along with maintaining a gratitude journal.
Taking to her Instagram, Samantha Ruth Prabhu shared a snippet of the podcast interview. She mentioned that she starts her day by journaling in her gratitude journal. She mentioned how this activity sets the tone of her day and helps her start the morning on a positive note. She revealed that she follows it up with a sun soak, the Wim Hof breathing exercise, meditation, and tapping. She said, “I wake up, I start journaling. I write in a gratitude journal and set myself up to have a good day. And then just five minutes of sun soak. I do a breathing exercise – what I follow is the Wim Hof method, followed by 25 minutes of meditation. This small practice might feel subtle and simple at first, but it has the power to change the way you see everything. Give it a try — it’s been a game-changer for me.”
Take a look at the post here.
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Samantha’s video has sparked curiosity about the Wim Hof method. Here’s all that you need to know about it.
What is the Wim Hof Breathing Technique?
Developed by Wim Hof, this breathing exercise combines controlled breathing exercises, cold exposure, and meditation to help improve physical and mental well-being. It is believed that this technique helps to increase energy, reduce stress, and improve focus. It is also said that this technique improves the immune response.
How To Perform The Wim Hof Breathing Technique?
Step 1: Find a quiet place where you can sit or lie down comfortably.
Step 2: Start taking deep breaths in through the nose, filling your lungs, and exhale through your mouth. Breathe deeply and consciously. Repeat this deep breathing for 30-40 breaths.
Step 3: After completing your 30-40 breaths, exhale fully. Hold your breath for as long as you can without force. When you feel the need to breathe again, inhale deeply and hold your breath for 15-20 seconds.
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Step 4: Repeat the cycle for three to four rounds.
Precautions To Take While Performing Wim Hof Breathing Exercise
This technique can cause dizziness or lightheadedness, so it’s important to avoid performing it while driving or swimming.
Start slowly, ideally with 10-20 breaths. Increase the number as you get accustomed to it.
Although the technique involves deep breathing, it’s important to remain relaxed and not to force the breathing too quickly or too intensely.
If you have respiratory issues, heart conditions, or mental health conditions (like anxiety or panic attacks), you should consult with a medical expert first.
Listen to your body and stop if you feel any signs of discomfort.
It might be starting to feel more spring-like outside (last weekend, we thank you), but March is still pretty cold at times, with more than its fair share of inclement weather. So, if you’re still leaning towards living room workouts rather than lacing your trainers up for a chilly run, we get it.
While there are a myriad of advantages to getting your movement in from home (convenience, cost and time, to name just a few), it’s easy to write off a home workout as too easy. And all too often, they’re targeted at us getting back into movement post injury, rehab or baby. Which got us thinking: is it really possible to do an advanced workout from home?