Workout: Making the Most of your Dorm Room

Most of our Halloween spirit has passed (thanks snow!), midterms are winding down, and Thanksgiving is coming up.  So much going on but have your workouts become a bit flat lately? When the weather starts to turn chilly (and, you know, maybe even see a little snow flying before November starts) we can certainly be tempted not to venture out of our rooms for a workout.

So how do we keep our abs tight and thighs in shape?

Here’s a small segment from my signature class Skating Physique™ to tone your legs and core. Once you’re done you will be strutting down Huntington like it’s a New York runway, completely oblivious to the plunging temperatures.

Look around your room and find a paper plate, a small towel or something that will slide on your floor; this is the only piece of “equipment” that you will need for this segment.

Place your right foot on the plate, while the other stays planted on the floor. Engage through the core and slowly glide your right foot straight behind you into a back lunge. With an exhale draw the right foot forward up to your stationary left foot. Repeat this 15 times on one side then repeat with the opposite leg.

Repeat the above a second time on both sides, however, this during this round, hold the last rep, stay low in your stationary leg and double-time the moving leg forward and back 10 times to add some cardio and a bit more burn.

Now let’s move on to the core

Get down in a plank or push-up position, wrists positioned directly under your elbows, which should be directly beneath your shoulders. Draw the abdominals in, squeeze your glutes and thighs and hold. Try to hold this first plank for 20 seconds. If this was difficult enough, stay put and repeat it three times, if you feel like you still need a bit more, try this:

Start with a low plank on your elbows, hold this for eight seconds. Make sure you do this without dropping your knees down, and push up into a high plank on the hands. Hold again for eight seconds, without dropping to your knees pull the abs in tighter and lift your right foot off of the floor and hold for eight seconds. Now place the right foot back down and hold high plank for eight seconds and drop back down to low plank on your elbows for eight seconds.

Now you have a choice to either take a quick timeout or go right into the second half. Repeat what’s above, however, lift you left leg rather than the right. I know it’s tempting but try to keep the count slow!

Now you should be feeling as great as you look! For more workout tips and quickie workouts check out dormworkout.com.  

Click here for another in-dorm workout from Meg.