Toning Exercises to Fit in Your Skinny Jeans

Fall is right around the corner, which means so are those denim styles. Skinny jeans seem to be sticking around, and while they may be mostly spandex and lycra to stretch, that doesn’t mean they hide our trouble spots! Get your legs and your core toned in time to rock those skinnies. Use these toning exercises to eliminate lower body jiggle.

1. Dancer’s Pose Taps: Start in a classic quad stretch with your left leg. Then lean forward, extending your right arm in front of you for balance, and extend your left arm behind you (keeping hold of your foot) and raise your left leg so your thigh is parallel to the floor.  Now, drop that right arm down and try to tap the floor with your fingertips. Keep your upper body straight the whole time. Lastly, lift yourself back to parallel keeping your core engaged for balance. Do as many taps as you can in 30 seconds, then switch legs for another 30 seconds.

2. Hamstring Curl on Stability Ball: Lie on your back with your legs straight. Place your feet together on top of the stability ball so that your heels are resting on the ball and your toes point towards the ceiling. Rest your hands at your sides with palms down. Tighten your core and lift your butt off the floor. Try to keep your back as straight as possible. Slowly roll the ball in towards your butt. Your feet will end up flat on top of the ball. Slowly roll the ball back to the start position. Do as many curls as you can within 60 seconds.

3. Side Leg Raises on Stability Ball: Lean your right side against the stability ball, keeping your legs straight. Your left foot should be stacked on top of your right foot. Lift your left leg up toward the ceiling, keeping it as straight as you can. Drop your leg back down. That’s one rep. Do as many as you can in 30 seconds, then switch sides and repeat for another 30
seconds. 

4. Bikram Squat: This is a yoga squat, so your knees may break the “stay behind the toes” policy very briefly. Get in your normal squat position, chest up, butt back, and knees behind toes. Lift up onto the balls of your feet, then get into a deep squat while still on the balls of your feet. Try as best you can to keep your chest up and your knees steady. Pause for a second, lift up and come down onto your heels. That’s one rep. Do as many reps as you can in 60
seconds. 

5. Medicine Ball Thigh Press: Lying on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground, put the medicine ball between your knees. Lift your butt off the ground and focus on keeping your core tight while remaining as straight as you can–don’t let your butt droop towards the floor. Slowly squeeze your knees together for 30 seconds then rest for 10 seconds. Repeat 3 times. (To intensify this exercise, lift your hips up while still squeezing the medicine ball!)   


6. Stability Ball Twists: Lie down on your back, legs fully extended and hands comfortably at your sides. Place the exercise ball between your feet. Lift your legs, keeping them straight, and really squeeze the exercise ball. Turn the ball to the left with your legs so that your right foot is above your left. Do not rotate your upper body, only twist your legs. Rotate the ball through the middle and to your right, so now your left foot is above your right. For extra core work, lift your shoulders off the mat, hovering your upper body above the floor as you twist side to side. Turn the ball to the left and right as many times as you can in 60
seconds. 


9. Boat Pose Bicycle: Have a seat on the ground with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Lean your upper body back to about a 45-degree angle. Keep your back straight and your shoulders relaxed. Pick your feet up off the floor and hold them in a 90-degree angle at the knee. Bend your arms inward, so your fingertips face each other and hold them right above your chest. Bring your right knee inward and extend the left leg while simultaneously bringing your left elbow to the right knee. Twist  your torso to get your elbow as close to the knee as possible. Reverse the movement, twisting through the core and to your left side. Keep rotating knees for 60 seconds.