• Exercise at home if it better fits your lifestylehard exercise image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
  
  Exercising at home is both beneficial and convenient. If you don't have the budget to install an exercise room, completely outfitted with the same advanced equipment stocked by your local gym, don't sweat it. You can still perform effective exercises that don't involve any equipment, in the comfort of your home.
  
  

Core Exercises

• Elbow Bridge Plank: Lie straight on the floor, face down, with your elbows and forearms positioned underneath your chest. Prop yourself up on your elbows and toes and maintain a straight back. Tighten your abs and hold this position as long as you can.
  
  Mountain Climber: Position yourself with your hands on the floor and arms held straight, balls of your feet on the floor. Slowly lift your right knee toward your left arm, then back down. Lift your left knee toward your right arm, then back down.
  
  Russian Twist: Lie on the floor with your feet anchored beneath a couch or bed, legs bent. Elevate your upper body, creating a "V" with your torso and thighs. Fully extend your arms in front of you, hands clasped. Twist your torso to the right side, exhaling, arms parallel to the floor. Hold this contraction for a second and return to facing forward. Repeat, twisting to the left side.
  
  Crunches: Lie flat on your back on the floor. Hold your hands beside your head or on your chest, and roll your upper torso forward.
  
  

Lower-Body Exercises

• Body Weight Squat: Stand with your feet slightly more than shoulder-width apart, your toes pointed slightly outward. Hold your arms out in front of your body at shoulder level. Slowly bend your legs and maintain a straight back as you lower yourself as far as you can without lifting your heels off the floor. Raise yourself back up.
  
  Body Weight Jump Squats: Spring up into the air after each squat.
  
  Leg Lifts: Stand behind a chair and grip the back of it. Place your feet shoulder-width apart. Curl one leg back as if you're kicking yourself in the buttock. Keep your knee still and focus on contracting your buttock and hamstring at the peak of the movement behind you. Hold this peak position for a one count, return to the starting position, and repeat with your other leg.
  
  

Upper-Body Exercises

• Push-Up: Lie face down on the floor, body held up by straight arms. Either extend your legs straight behind you or position yourself on your knees. Slowly bend your elbows, lowering yourself to the floor, then straighten your elbows to raise yourself up to the starting position.
  
  Floor Y Raise: Lie face down on the floor, arms straight and at a 30-degree angle from your body. Raise your arms as high as you can, pause, then lower back to the floor.
  
  Serratus Chair Shrug: Sit upright on a chair with your hands flat on the chair, next to your hips. Completely straighten your arms and press your shoulders down as you lift your upper body. Pause 4 to 5 seconds. Lower your body back down to the starting position.