Time spent commuting is time out of our precious days that we’ll will never get back, so imagine if you could put that “dead” time to work by getting fit while you travel to work – well now you can.
We have worked with the guys behind London Fitness Tour who have some cool and easy ways to put the 74 minutes we spend on average each day to get to and from work to good use.
They have come up with a bunch of clever exercises and fitness tricks that will help you effortlessly get fit, toned and energised without having to spend more of your precious time going to the gym – that is unless you want to.
“Tapping into your daily commute is a great way for busy Londoners to find time to train and get something out of traveling to work. Our London Fitness Tour exercises show how easy it is to fit a cardio and muscle toning workout into part of your daily schedule, so you are much more likely to train regularly”, says Savio who runs London Fitness Tour, the innovative and exciting weekly classes that combine exercise, sightseeing and fantastic music in some of the most interesting parts of London.
5 Commuting Workout Tips:
No special equipment is needed, just a comfortable pair of shoes or trainers.
1. The London Walk
Whether consciously or unconsciously Londoners power walk everywhere, just look at everyone marching at top speed to and from the tube or bus stop. Try and step up your step speed and then make the most of it by combing a double breathing technique with muscles contractions that you can do whilst walking to the station or going from one meeting to the next. If done correctly you can do the equivalent of 300 squats and 300 crunches in just 15-minute walk.
2. Conscious breathing technique to tone the abs while you walk
Many people breathe with their upper chest muscles instead of their belly and diaphragm. The London Walk is all about breathing correctly using your diaphragm and therefore working on your abs and inhaling a much larger quantity of oxygen that goes into your lungs and contributes to your general health and wellbeing.
The first step is to become conscious about how you breathe, secondly start breathing with your diaphragm, thirdly use a double breathing technique whilst you walk and let your breathing guide your pace.
Breathe in with your nose twice and breathe out with your mouth twice and as you do so feel your abs and contract them for an incredibly effective abs workout.
3. Muscle contractions for a super-toned butt and faster walking pace
Contracting your butt when walking will help you tone it up but also will make you walk faster. Start with stepping forward with your right leg and focus on your left leg. Extend it and contract your left cheek as you do so. This will also make you rotate your hips and walk in a much more confident way, apart from increasing your speed. Repeat the same with your right side. Alternate the butt contraction for 20 times and then relax and keep walking. Combine this with the double breathing technique so you simultaneously contract your abs and your butt.
4. Stair Workout – burn calories, get in some cardio and tighten your thighs, calves and butt
Walk on your toes: For calves and butt, place your feet on the edge of each step and push yourself up with your calves. If you increase the rhythm it becomes a very effective cardiovascular exercise.
Long step: To work on your thighs take two steps at a time. To work on your butt contract the muscles every time your feet meet.
5. Tone up with isometric exercises for strap hanging, waiting for a bus or tube or sitting still
Start practicing some isometric exercises to tone your muscles without moving a muscle. It works on the principle that you can strengthen your muscles, shed fat, and get a toned body by focusing on specific muscles even when you’re not moving. Most of the core conditioning exercises, yoga postures, and even pilates exercises are isometric.
Standing still open up your shoulders, straighten your legs, contract your butt and abs for at least 15 seconds, then release and contract again. You can use it to work on your arms as well if you are holding a bar or strap on the tube or bus. Tense your arms muscles for 15 seconds and then change hand and repeat on the other side, always whilst contracting the rest of your body as well.
Elisabetta Faggiana of London Fitness Tour says: “And if you want to get to know some more of this great city, listen to some amazing music and exercise at the same time why not join London’s hottest new way of getting fit with a London Fitness Tour of some of the city’s coolest spots. The classes are a fun to discover some hidden parts of London, meet new people and of course get fit at the same time”.
For more information and tickets visit www.londonfitnesstour.com!
