Work out at the beach – week 6

Relax and absorb the beauty of the beach all around you. Read a book or magazine. But between chapters, take a little break and perform the following beach exercises.

• Play catch or Frisbee: Catching and throwing a ball or a flying disc with a friend will definitely challenge your agility. Play for 10 minutes or more.

• Outer thigh lifts: Lay on your side with your legs straight and positioned one on top of the other. Now slowly lift the top leg a few inches and release. Just before you touch the other leg, lift again. Do 13-20 reps each leg. This one targets your outer thigh area.

• Push-ups: Lay on your stomach with your abdominals contracted. Place your hands a few inches beside your shoulders. Now slowly push up and then release. Do 13-20 reps from a toe or knee position. This one’s good for the chest, shoulders and arms.

• Abdominal leg lifts: Lay on your back with your legs slightly bent. Keep your abdominals contracted and your back in a neutral position. Now slowly lift one leg a few inches off the sand while ensuring your back does not move at all. Repeat 8-15x each leg. This exercise is great for your abdominals.

Sherri McMillan, M.Sc., is the owner of Northwest Personal Training in downtown Vancouver. She can be reached at http://nwPersonalTraining.com or http://ShapeupwithSherri.com.