Be Well Workout of the Week: Opposite Exercises Attract
Six pairs of exercises, done five times each: That’s your challenge this week. (And yes, it will be harder than it sounds.) Get ready to move quickly, completing each pair of exercises five times before moving on to the next set of exercises, all while keeping your form in tip-top shape.
Each pair of exercises consists of opposing moves that use different areas of strength. For example, some sets include upper-body and lower-body work while others include one exercise that involves the act of pushing and another that involves pulling, and so on. The idea is, since you’re working different areas with each exercise in a pair, you can give your all to both moves.
Okay, ready, set, go!
Be Well Workout of the Week: Opposite Exercises Attract
Complete five sets of the pair before moving on to the next pair.
Pair #1
10 decline push-ups
15 sit-ups
Pair #2
20 lunge jumps
10 bent-over rows (Do 10 on each side)
Pair #3
10 burpees
100 jump rope jumps
Pair #4
20 ski jumpers
15 tricep dips
Pair #5
10 dead lifts
10 lateral raises
Pair #6
6 pull-ups
6 hanging knee raises
» Wondering how hard this workout is going to be? Check out this review of the Opposite Exercises Attract workout.
Explanations of exercises:
Click the links below for how-to videos
Decline push-ups: Put your feet on a bench or step, and put your hands on the ground. Do your push-ups in that position.
Sit-up: Lie on your back with feet on the floor and knees bent. Put your hands behind your ears. Without pulling on your neck and using only your abs, lift your shoulders off the mat and come to a full sit-up position. Lie back down slowly.
Lunge jumps: Start standing with feet together and step forward with the left leg into a lunge, bending knee to about 90 degrees. Jump as you stand back up and switch legs before you land, so your right leg is forward. Lunge again, then jump, putting your left leg forward, and so forth. Left and right counts as one.
Bent-over rows: Hold a dumbbell in your hand with feet shoulder width apart and knees slightly bent. Bend forward from the waist, keeping your spine straight and letting your hand fall forward in front of you. Pull the dumbbell back (you should feel like you’re rowing a boat), squeezing your shoulder blade. Do 10 on the left then switch and do 10 on the right. For more of a challenge, try a plank row in a push ups position with your hands on the weights.)
Burpee: Just like an up-down in football. Put your hands on the ground, jump your feet out behind you so you’re in push-up position, lower to the ground, bring your feet back in, and stand up.
Ski jumpers: Start in a skier’s stance (like a squat, but bent forward at the waist slightly). Using your arms for momentum, jump up and to the left, landing on both feet. Jump to the right. Repeat.
Tricep dips: Using a bench or a chair, step your legs out a few feet in front of your body. Steady your hands on the bench or chair and, with your back just a few inches from your fingertips, lower your body to the ground. Then raise your body back to the starting position by pushing into the bench or chair. Repeat.
Dead lift: Stand with legs shoulder-width apart and dumbbells in hands. Bend knees slightly and lean forward with your arms moving towards the ground, until your back is at a table-top position. Slowly return to the starting position.
Lateral raise: Holding dumbbells, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Raise your arms out from on your sides to shoulder height, return to start and repeat.
Pull-ups: Suspend yourself on the pull-up bar with your hands a little wider than shoulder-width apart. Pull yourself up, keeping your body as straight as possible, until your chest reaches the bar. Slowly return to the starting position and repeat. (If you’re struggling with pull-ups, try these alternatives instead.)
Hanging knee raises: Hanging from pull up bar, use your abs to bring both knees up to touch (or get as close as you can) your elbows.
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Audrey McKenna Hasse is the owner of A.M.Fit, a personal training and healthy consultation business on the Main Line. You’ll find her workouts every Monday right here on Be Well Philly.
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