Top Ten Exercises for the Dorm Room

Exercise is definitely an important part of staying healthy and making sure the freshmen 15 do not come to haunt you during those critical college years. Making sure that you take 15 to 30 minutes every day will help you concentrate and keep away the pounds. Here are just a few simple ways to exercise without joining a gym or even leaving your room. Photo: Getty Images

Walking

If you live within walking distance of your classes, then do it! Walking to class is a great way to get your daily dose of exercise, especially when you walk quickly (like you are late for class). You may not be walking for very long, but every little bit that you do helps.

Take the Stairs

Instead of waiting for those pesky elevators you should take the stairs. They are a great workout for your back end, and you don’t have to stand next to people you do not really know.

Yoga is your Friend

Yoga is really good for your body and can help with stress, weight loss and just overall better health. There are lots of fun tips online and there are also many free podcasts on iTunes to help you get started. All you need is a pair of comfy pants and a mat and you are ready to go!

Kickboxing

Kickboxing has many health benefits. Every kick and hit that you make loosens up your nerves and helps relieve stress from every part of your body. It also gives your heart a great workout as your heart rate goes up. Kickboxing is also a very fun toning exercise that will help thin down core areas like your arms, legs and buttocks.

Jumping Jacks

Doing jumping jacks may remind you of little kids, but it is a great workout. Especially when you are tight on space, jumping jacks really help tone your body and get your blood pumping. Getting your heart rate up helps speed up your metabolism which then helps you tone your body, making that swimsuit look even more amazing!

Jumping Rope

If space permits, jumping rope is a great way to get your heart working. Even Olympic athletes use the jump rope as a way to burn the fat away and keep their agility up. Jumping rope can burn up to 1,000 calories per hour, helping you tone your abs, legs, arms and butt!

Use a Chair

A chair can be a great tool when trying to find space to workout in. There are many ways you can use a chair to tone and strengthen your body. Chair dips, knee lifts, push-ups, crunches, lunges and many other exercises can be modified to use a chair. Try typing chair exercises into your favorite search engine and see what you can come up with!

Resistance Bands

Using a resistance band can also get your heart rate up. They are a great, inexpensive tool that helps strengthen and tone small groups of muscles. When using a resistance band you need to keep your balance so it utilizes more muscles. You can also use it in all directions and it is easy to modify for strength training exercises like push-ups and curls.

Swimming

If you have access to a swimming pool you should take advantage of it. Swimming is one of the best workouts because it helps gently work every muscle in your body. Every time you get out of the pool after a couple laps you will feel better about your body and you will not be too tired either. It also helps with lung capacity and it will bring your heart rate up.

Just Dance

Finding fun in your exercise routine is just as important as the routine itself. When you find yourself dreading waking up early to go running or to do strength training don't worry! Just stay in, find your best fist pumping music and just dance! Dancing has many health benefits including, relieving stress, increasing your energy and toning your beautiful body! So go ahead and find what works best for you because there are many, many choices.