Some handy exercise equipment you can use in your dorm

 

To maintain a balanced life as a college student, Garry Y. Itkin always thinks of ways to keep himself fit and healthy without having to spend too much. If you're a student, joining a gym club might be an added expense that you might not be ready for. In this blog post, he shares some handy exercise equipment that you can use in the dorm.

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1. Jump rope

The jump rope is literally a very small object, and yet it can give you an exhilarating cardio workout. All you need is a space that's wide enough so that the rope doesn't hit anyone or anything in your dorm while you're using it. Garry Y. Itkin believes that this is best done outdoors so that you can breathe in all that fresh air and oxygen you will need as you exercise. Otherwise, your dorm room should be ample enough as a venue.

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2. Resistance bands

Resistance bands are very light and easy to install. You only have to find a wall or a stable point to hook this up in, and you're ready to go. Resistance bands can provide you with ample resistance that helps you build those muscles and add definition to your body. One of its biggest benefits for a regular dorm-based student is that you don't have to worry about tripping on it or dropping it and injuring your feet, compared to using metal dumbbells, notes Garry Y. Itkin.

3. Gym ball

The gym ball is the perfect tool to modify all the other exercises you are used to doing. For example, you can make pushups lighter or heavier by using the gym ball to lean on as you do your reps. You can stretch your body in places that are hard to target with the help of a gym ball. If it still takes up too much space in your dorm room, you easily deflate it and stow it away in a small place.

How to improve your free throw shooting

 

Being a freshman biology student, Garry Y. Itkin constantly finds ways to keep himself fit without having to spend at all, which is a real concern among students like him. He plays basketball to keep fit, but he also works hard to become better at it. In this blog post, he shares some tips on how to improve free throw shooting.

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You first need to establish the proper hand positioning on the ball as you take your shot. To get this right and burn it into your muscle memory, you might want to try shooting the ball with one hand first, so you get to feel how the ball is supposed to rest on your hand, along with the amount of force you need to launch the shot, shares Garry Y. Itkin. From there, use your other hand only as a guide and take practice shots until you get comfortable with your form.

You will need to make corrections on your range. Many players do this the wrong way by extending the force of their shot horizontally, which is not the correct way. You should be more conscious about making the arc of your ball higher for it to reach the basket.

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Make it a habit to bend your knees as you take the shot. This allows the potential energy that comes from the ground to go all the way up to your shooting arm and hand as you release the ball. This also allows you to concentrate more on the way that you release your shot.

Lastly, train yourself to dribble the ball a few times before you take the free throw. This allows your senses to have a good feel for the ball before you take the shot.

Use these everyday objects to exercise without having to leave the dorm.

As a biology student who's living on a budget, Garry Y. Itkin spends a lot of his time doing his fitness exercises in his dorm. You might be surprised that you have mostly everything you need at home to help you through your fitness plans so you can spare yourself from investing in gym equipment.

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Here are some examples:

1. Stool

A stool is quite versatile as an exercise aid. You can certainly do box jumps with it. You can also do some inclined pushups with your stool, which can both give you less or more resistance, depending on where you place your feet. You can practice lateral high jumps with a high enough stool, which is awesome for cardio, says Garry Y. Itkin. Once you realize how many things you can do with a stool, you'll be so amazed.

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2. Books

When you're in school, it's all about hitting the books. Since you have them around at the dorm anyway, why not use them for exercise, too? Books are great for adding resistance to your normal stationary exercises. For example, a thick enough book can act as a dumbbell that can target your biceps and triceps. You may even lay a book flat on your chest as you do crunches for that extra bit of challenge.

3. Detergent bottles

Detergent bottles are also great to have, simply because whatever you can do in kettlebell exercises, you can do with it, too. As Garry Y. Itkin suggests, deadlifts can even be more amazing when you use a detergent bottle or even two. As you hold a detergent bottle in each hand, you can climb up your building's stairs and work up your upper body for that added strength that you can surely use.

Some exercises for upper body toning without weights.

Living the college life truly presents you with limited options to do the things you want to do. However, in the case of freshman biology student Garry Y. Itkin, this has not stopped him from doing one of the things he is passionate about, which is fitness. In this blog, he shares some exercises that can help you tone your upper body, without using any equipment. 

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1. Push-up Push-ups are very popular for those who really want a good workout on the major muscle groups of the body, but with a limited space to do it. This particularly strengthens the shoulders, abdominal muscles, and the chest. For beginners who may find this a tad too challenging, decrease the resistance and use your knees as your fulcrum instead of your feet, suggests Garry Y. Itkin.

2. Plank The plank is simple enough to understand because all you really need to do is use up the same space as you would in doing pushups, and hold your position while remaining as motionless as a wooden plank. However, this is not simple to undergo because it really challenges your core. That’s what makes it effective in sculpting and strengthening your abdominal muscles. 

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3. Triceps box dip This exercise specifically targets your triceps, shoulders, and chest. Sitting on the floor, you can start with your back facing a step or a chair with your feet extended forward. Place your hands on top of the chair with your fingers pointing towards your body, and gently lift yourself up. This will surely tone your arms perfectly in the long run, shares Garry Y. Itkin.

The simple fact is, you don’t really need a lot of space or equipment to be at the top of your fitness game. What’s more important is your commitment to go through the motions with these simple upper body exercises.