American fitness guru Jack LaLanne entered living rooms in the 1950s through "The Jack LaLanne Show" and taught housewives the principles of fitness and nutrition. LaLanne practices what he preaches and has been exercising for over 75 years. At 96 years old in 2010, he is a model of fitness and health. His mission is to help people look and feel better through exercise. Many of his routines are composed of simple exercises that he created to improve physical fitness.
Body Bends
The body bend helps warm up the body and loosen the back. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands on your hips. Bend at the waist and lower your torso over your right knee, straighten up and bend backwards, then bend at the waist and lower your torso over your left knee. Continue without stopping for 20 repetitions. This is one exercise from a series that Jack calls "Trimnastics."
Shoulder Flies
Shoulder flies, another "Trimnastics" exercise, work to develop the arms and shoulders. Stand with your feet wide apart, back straight, head up, the arms outstretched in front of your body and your hands clenched into fists. Bending the elbows, bring the arms to the sides of the body at shoulder height and then back to the front position. Inhale as you expand the arms and inhale as you bring the arms back to the starting position. Repeat for 30 repetitions.
Leg Lifts
Place a chair with the back towards your body. Stand with your back straight, head up and feet together. If the chair is on your left side, place your hand on the top of the chair back. The chair back should be perpendicular to your body. Next, lift your left leg keeping it straight until it is straight out in front of you. Do this while counting. The "one" count should be on the up motion with your leg up; "two" should be while dropping your leg to the starting position.On "three," raise your left leg backwards as far as possible. "Four" brings your leg back to the starting position. Do this for 10 repetitions and repeat with the right leg. You do not need to move the chair.
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