Everyone buys gym memberships with the best of intentions. You plan to go several times a week. You plan to take advantage of classes or sessions with personal trainers. You have every intention of formulating a plan, and sticking to it. The problem is: the gym is too easy to avoid. And the reasons for avoiding it are just too good.

It’s not just laziness. Commute times are getting longer and longer: the last thing you want to do before or after work is spend some more time driving to a gym and fighting for a parking space. That’s assuming you even have the option: if you have kids to pick up or drop off, or chores to do at home, you may simply not have the time you feel you need to get a good workout at the gym.

This is where the benefits of home exercise equipment really show. You can snatch a few minutes here and there on the treadmill while dinner’s cooking. You can watch your kids while you work out. You can watch your own DVD’s in the comfort of air conditioning set to your preference while you use a stationary bike, elliptical or treadmill. You can listen to music you like, set up some aromatherapy that you find inspiring, or do some reading while you exercise. And when you’re done, you can take a shower in the comfort of your own bathroom, with all your favorite shampoos, soaps and towels right there waiting for you.
Most importantly, how many times can you look at a piece of exercise equipment before you run out of excuses? If you’re thinking, “You have no idea how many”, you might be surprised. Every time you see it, you’re reminded of the benefits it offers you, and you start thinking of ways to work it into your schedule almost without trying.

Investing time in exercising is a healthy decision that will have positive effects on both your body and mind. As the majority of adults deal with chronic, on-going stress, it becomes important to find time to take care of your body and exercise your heart and muscles. Proper posture — holding your back straight but relaxed — is an important piece of the physical wellness puzzle. Yoga and Pilates exercises work on strengthening the “core” stability muscles ñ our stomach and back muscles ñ to support healthy deep breathing and proper posture. Follow these simple exercises below that you can perform to strengthen your back and stomach muscles from the comfort of your own home.

Exercise for Your Abdominals: CRUNCHES

Instructions:
a) Lie comfortably on your back on an exercise mat or thick towel. Bend your knees and keep your feet planted on the floor.
Hold your hands lightly on the back of your head to support your neck (but avoid pulling your head).
b) Exhale and slowly roll your upper body forward, raising your shoulder blades off the floor and contracting your stomach muscles.
c) Once you have raised your head about eight inches, hold the position for a count of three.
d) Inhale and carefully lower your torso and head back towards the floor, stopping with your head slightly above the floor.
e) Do fifteen to twenty repetitions, being careful about your body alignment.

Exercise for Your Abdominals: REVERSE CRUNCHES

Instructions:
a) Lie comfortably on your back on an exercise mat or thick towel. Bend both knees and raise your feet off the floor. Relax your arms at your sides.
b) With the movement originating from your lower body, bring your knees towards your chest in a slow and controlled way. Raise your pelvis off the floor as your curl your spine towards your head.
c) Your head remains lying on the ground throughout the exercise. Use your hands to keep your body stable.
d) Hold the position for a count of three and then slowly lower your body to the beginning position.
e) Do fifteen to twenty repetitions, being mindful of your body alignment.

Exercise for Your Obliques: BICYCLE CRUNCHES

Instructions
a) Lie on your back on an exercise mat or thick towel. Bend your knees approximately 90 degrees. Place your hands lightly behind your head.
b) Slowly curl your body forward, like the basic crunch, bringing your right knee towards your left elbow and extending your left leg out about 45 degrees.
c) Keep your shoulders off the floor and continue switching from your left side to your right side, bringing your opposite knees and elbows together every time.
d) Complete 15 to 25 repetitions, keeping proper posture.