Different types of exercise for women who want to keep their curves will improve fitness levels without reducing natural curves. While cardiovascular exercises help reduce calories, they also can end up slimming your hips and curves. Combining cardiovascular exercise with a healthy diet and strength-training exercises will help you stay fit without reducing curves.
Hula Hoop Exercise
Exercising with a hula hoop regularly can help tone and tighten your upper thighs and hips as well as burn calories without reducing your curves. Start by placing a hula hoop around your waist and rotating your hips for as long as you can. This exercise can also teach you balance and coordination. Once you get a good rhythm, hula for an extended period of time, increasing your hooping time daily to burn more calories and further tone your body. As you improve, you can invest in weight hula hoops to give your hips more resistance.
Stepups
Stepups are a basic exercise that strengthens your legs and hips through natural resistance. Place a stool or step directly in front of you. Step up onto the step with your right leg, using all of your weight to push you up and onto the step. Once both feet are on the step, step back down. Repeat the exercise with your left leg, alternating between both legs until you are fatigued. As you improve, increase the pace with which you are performing the stepup exercise.
Standing Calf Machine Exercise
Exercising and toning your calve muscles will help you strengthen your lower legs as well as burn calories without losing your curves. Stand up on a calve machine, placing both of your shoulders under the shoulder pads and selecting a weight that is appropriate for you. From here, push up on the weight using your legs to propel your body up. Lower the back parts of your feet down, staying on your toes as you descend. Push up and repeat until fatigued.
Stretching Exercises
Stretching exercises will improve your flexibility and core strength without reducing your curves. Isometric exercises, such as planks and side leg lifts, can help you strengthen your abdominal and lower torso muscles without shrinking your curves. In addition, leg and hip extensions will help improve your range of motion while maintaining your basic body shape. Inner thigh stretches for your inner groin can be performed by standing up straight with both hands on your hips. Shift to your right, keeping your left leg straight while bending at the right knee. Hold for 10 seconds before repeating with your other leg.
References
- "Time"; Hula Hoops: From Child's Play to Real Exercise; Catherine Sharick; September 2009
- Mayo Clinic; Video: Step-up Exercise; February 2010
- Women's Heart Foundation; Stretching Exercises for Women; Kathleen B. Williamson, M.S., R.N.
- Hard Fitness Online Magazine; Building Hot Curves; Linda Cusmano; 2004
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