4 Energizing Exercises to Get Moving This Spring

The weather has officially started shifting to warmer temperatures here in the Northeast and we couldn't be happier!

I'm always excited when Spring starts to make an appearance, but this year, it's definitely more exciting since we are all still in lockdown because of the pandemic. So I'm definitely feeling a lot of gratitude for lighter jackets and sunshine!

With this in mind, I wanted to share 4 exercises that are guaranteed to get you feeling energized and motivated to take on the day or the week!

1. Cat/Cow Stretch

This has always been one of my favorite yoga poses because it is so simple, but just feels so good on your body! This is a great movement to start with before you jump into the other 5 exercises below.

The "cow" stretch activates the tailbone, the spine's root, while the "cat" stretch releases the tension of neck and upper back. The pose will also improve the blood flow in your spine.

Make sure you take some nice deep breathes while you do this stretch. Inhale on your cow pose and release your belly towards the floor and exhale on your cat pose as you arch your spine and squeeze your core in tight.

Here's what it looks like:

2. Squat to Shoulder Press

I love this movement because you can do it anywhere and you don't have to use any equipment if you don't want to! This gets your whole body moving and all of your blood flowing, hence why I consider it an awesome energizing exercise!

It's a compound movement, meaning it engages more than one muscle group at one time - win-win! This exercise mainly engages your legs and shoulders. Although your core and back are definitely engaged when doing this movement.

I'd recommend grabbing full water bottles, or light dumbbells to start. From there, you can use heavier items or dumbbells if you choose to. You can also hold a medicine ball/soccer ball/basketball, a backpack filled with some books, or literally any other item you have around your house. Don't overthink it - just get moving.

Here's what it looks like:

3. Star Jumps

You may look kind of silly doing these, but they are sure to get you smiling! Fun fact about star jumps - they work almost every muscle in your body!

There's no secret behind these. You are literally jumping in the air and reaching your legs and arms away from you to make the shape of a star. A few of these jump in a row will get you heart rate up and get your blood flowing in all directions.

Think of these as a really big jumping jack!

Here's what it looks like:

4. Alternating Air Punches

I don't know about you, but there is something really satisfying about punching? Maybe it's just a natural stress reliever? I'm not sure, but I'm not going to overthink it :)

This one is pretty self explanatory. Imagine you've got a punching bag in front of you and start swinging!

One thing to make sure you don't do is lock your elbows at the extension of your punch! That will really start to become painful over time, so make sure to keep soft elbows as you extend and retract your arms.

Feel free to hold dumbbells or water bottles while you punch to make the movement more challenging. It's not necessary, but can be a fun way to challenge yourself if you want to kick it up a notch.

I'd recommend doing this exercise for 20 or 30 seconds without stopping, then rest for 10 seconds and then repeat. Do this for 5, 10, or 15 minutes as your cardio exercise for the day.

Here's what it looks like:

Give these a try and let me know how you feel! You can do them all together in a circuit or separate. Add them in to your daily walk outside or do them in the morning when you get out of bed. Just get moving!