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Not everyone wants to go to the gym or workout room these days. The solution: Bring fitness equipment into your home. However, you don't have to include a bulky treadmill or expensive multi-purpose exercise machine. An exercise ball is a simple, unobtrusive tool for strengthening your legs and core. Here are some tips for using exercise balls in your Flagstaff apartment.
Choose the Right Exercise Ball
When you sit on an exercise ball, your knees should bend at a 90-degree angle with your feet flat on the floor. If you order online and you can't check it out, choose the size based on your height:
under 5’1” = 45 centimeter ball
5’1” to 5’7” = 55 cm
5’8” to 6’1” = 65 cm
over 6’1” = 75 cm
For beginners, sitting on the unstable surface of a ball can take some getting used to. If you slightly underinflate your ball, you’ll get the hang of it quicker. Pump it up to be more firm as you gain experience.
Sample Exercises
There are dozens of exercise-ball routines to work your abs and legs, but here are two to get started. Most balls include an instruction book with many more.
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Leg Lifts/Extensions. Sit on the ball and lift one leg. Tighten your abdominal muscles to keep the ball from moving. Hold your leg lifted for five seconds. Raise the opposite arm as you lift. To make it harder, extend your leg directly in front.
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Prone Stretches. Lie with your abdomen resting on the ball. Extend one arm and the opposite leg, and hold the position for five seconds. To make it harder, extend the same arm and leg. Or extend both arms and one leg.
How about a new apartment to go along with your new approach to fitness? University Square offers spacious Flagstaff apartments perfect for home workouts that are conveniently close to colleges, dining, and shopping. Call us to learn more today!
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Are you feeling a bit stressed out these days? Then, it may be time to create a special spot in your home where you can meditate and let your anxieties melt away. This area does not have to be a whole room. It can, in fact, just be a small corner of your living room or bedroom. The following are 4 suggestions to help you create a relaxing meditation retreat in your home.
Declutter Your Meditation Retreat
Make sure to rid your meditation space of unnecessary clutter, such as stacks of paper and unfolded laundry. It's hard to relax if you're constantly viewing reminders of chores you'll need to take care of later.
Add Natural Touches
Nature is very healing to the soul. So, consider inviting Mother Nature into your meditation space. You can start by adding plants, perhaps a beautiful fern, to your special retreat. A table water fountain is another good addition to a meditation spot, as the sound of water splashing or flowing over rocks can be very soothing to a weary soul.
Make It Comfortable
Add a couple of comfortable pillows that you can sit on or a nice yoga mat that you can lie on while you meditate.
Look for the Right Lighting
If possible, try to choose a spot with at least some natural lighting, perhaps near a window. Natural lighting is more soothing than harsh artificial lights. If you prefer to meditate at night, consider lighting up your area with the soft glow of candles.
Sometimes, when you're feeling stressed, it helps to start fresh in a new place. If you've been searching for a new home, we would love for you to check out our beautiful apartments in Flagstaff. Our community offers several amenities that we believe will alleviate some of the stress in your life, including package receiving, on-site laundry facilities, and 24/7 emergency maintenance.
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Getting some exercise on a daily basis is a good way to make sure you’re healthy. If it’s too hot to head outdoors for physical activity, you can exercise indoors instead. The following are exercises that you can do in your apartment without disturbing your neighbors.
Push-Ups
Push-ups help you build your upper body strength, especially in your arms and shoulders. You can do these by lying on your stomach with your legs straight and your palms flat on the floor on either side of you. Slowly push up off the floor with your arms. The tips of your toes should be touching the floor while you do this with your heels reaching back rather than up. After raising your body up, slowly lower it back down, and repeat this about ten times or as many times as you feel comfortable doing. Make sure you keep your body straight while doing push-ups.
Sit-Ups
Sit-ups are a great way to build your abdominal muscles. You can do sit-ups by lying down on your back while bending your knees with your feet flat on the floor. Your knees should form a 45-degree angle. Place your hands behind your head, then slowly raise your upper body off the floor into a sitting position using your ab muscles. Lower your body back down, then repeat these movements. If you’re uncomfortable doing sit-ups with your hands behind your head, you can cross your arms over your chest instead while sitting up. It's important to remember not to crunch your neck, so look up and back with plenty of room between your chin and chest instead of straining your head forward.
Leg Stretches
Stretching your leg muscles helps improve your flexibility, which can lower your risk of injuries. There are several leg stretches you can do in your apartment, including quad stretches, which involve bending your leg and lifting your foot toward your hand. Hold your leg in this position for about 30 seconds, then repeat with the other leg. You can also do lunges for an extra challenge.
The living rooms in our apartments offer plenty of space for doing stretches and other indoor exercises. Contact us for more details on our apartments in Flagstaff, AZ!
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