Rev it Up: Exercises You Can Perform at Stop Lights

OK. I have been living in LA for a while. No matter where you live you probably know that many of us are in our cars WAY too much and it got me thinking... what kind of workout could you do in your car at a stop light that would be safe and effective?

Now, I know what you're thinking. Drivers are probably doing enough extraneous stuff in their cars already, right? During this week alone I've seen text-ing, reading, lots of cell phone chatter, eating, drinking, flirting and some precarious mascara application. And that was just Tuesday.

My recommendation is to put all that stuff away. Put on some good music. Try these three simple and safe stop light exercises so that you can connect to your body while keeping your eyes firmly focused on the road.

1. BREATHE. I know this is not actually a fitness exercise but I bet you'd be shocked at how relaxed and centered you'd find yourself after three phases of this breathing exercise. Try to exhale all the breath from your lungs. For most of us that takes one long steady exhalation and then two or three little "push" exhalations. Then breathe in through your nose for 8 full counts drawing more oxygen into the lungs than you think you need. Exhale naturally with a sigh. Restore your natural breathing pattern for 30 seconds and repeat. Be careful because sometimes deep breath work makes you a little light-headed or dizzy. But ultimately you'll feel centered and relaxed and focused on the activity at hand. Driving.

2. TRAFFIC LIGHT PUSH and PULL. Whenever you are waiting for a traffic light to change to green place your hands at 9:00 and 3:00 on the steering wheel and firmly press your upper body muscles in to the wheel. Really get an isometric squeeze with the upper arms and chest. Push both hands into the wheel and in towards each other. Flex and hold the contraction for five seconds and then release and repeat. Make sure to breathe throughout and keep your eyes on that light. At the next traffic light stop (and only when you are stopped!) take your hands off the wheel and draw your elbows back toward your seat and squeeze your shoulder blades together as tightly as you can. Roll the shoulder blades down the back and relax your neck. Again hold for five seconds, release and repeat. This will strengthen up your back and prevent that slouchy driving posture.

3. ISOMETRIC BOOTY SQUEEZING. That's right. Squeeze clench and breathe. Hold for 8-10 seconds. It's usually easier to contract isometrically when you are exhaling slowly.

Remember that these are exercises to do only at stop lights... not while actually driving. Safety first. When you arrive at your destination you can feel good that your made the most of your drive!