The Tucson Fitness Experience

Right now, the weather is ideal for Arizonians looking to get a good workout in during pretty much any time of day.  Being outside all day isn’t just a luxury mid-quarantine. It’s also time-sensitive for us as we do not have much longer before scorching temperatures return.  That said, we have made some custom videos outdoors with our unique skylines and temps so you can get more than just an Inspired Fitness routine, but beyond that, a Tucson Fitness experience.

Every morning is a good morning.  We are alive and able to make the best of our day when we start with active exercises that get the blood flowing and the brain going. Plus, people who exercise vigorously outside were found to also have higher levels of mood-boosting vitamin D. Before you embrace the day, start off with a Good Morning workout move.

Stand tall on your right leg with the left leg bent in front of you. As you stay balanced kick your left leg back and straight, making a 90-degree angle. Return to standing on the right leg, maintaining your balance. Keeping your shoulders down and your abs in, bring your small pound weight up to your chest with a bicep curl.  Return your hands down to your side, and kick that left leg back. Do this exercise at the pace you need to do it correctly. Slow is smooth and smooth is successful! Repeat this exercise for one whole minute.

This fun play on words is exactly what makes a Tucson Fitness routine powerful.  Adding in an exercise called “Wood Chopping” is just what you need, even if forest fires aren’t exactly our thing.

Start with feet shoulder-length apart and grab one dumbbell. With the dumbbell held by both hands, bring the weight over the right side of your body, above your shoulder. Bring the weight down across your body to the left foot, as you squat, returning the weight above your shoulder as you lift from the squatting position. Repeat this move for an entire minute.

As you complete the above two exercises, you’ll want to add some hip stabilizing to your sweat and sculpt routine with a nice Curtsy Lunge. Stand with your feet hip-distance apart and let your arms fall at your sides. Draw a semicircle with your right foot, moving it clockwise until it crosses behind your left foot. Keep your right toe tucked and clasp your hands together at your heart.

Sink into a lunge, then launch back up into standing while lifting your weights up over your head, stacked above your shoulders. Keep shoulders down and make sure your knees are at a 90-degree angle when dipping back down into your lunge. Repeat this exercise for 1 minute.

There’s nothing quite like jumping jacks. It likely doesn’t need any instruction in your Rolodex of regimens, however, follow these tips to successfully keep your jumping jacks on point. Jump to a position with the legs spread wide and the hands going overhead, clapping if you’d like, and then returning to a position with the feet together and the arms at the sides.

Go for big movements with the arms.  Getting the hands way overhead and the upper arm off of the body and alongside your ears.  If you need to curb the jumping, you can step to either side for modification, still keeping those arms fully extended out and up.

Take a 30-second break to grab some water and prepare for the same round of exercises again. Repeat these moves for the same number of reps you did on the previous side, this time, switching positions and movements of the legs. Kick your right leg back this time during your Good Morning. Chop wood from over your other shoulder this time.  And curtsy with confidence from the other leg lunging. Revisit the jumping jacks again and you’re all set. You’ve completed a quick Tucson Fitness workout that can be done either indoors or outdoors, with just a few moves and even optional weights.

Looking for a bit more instruction or demo-style workouts?  Visit our Inspired Fitness YouTube channel and subscribe to get the latest video tutorials tailored to Tucson locals just like you.