10 Simple Exercises That Your Body Will Thank You For

Time to get that body movin'. Whether you're a fitness freak or a reluctant former couch potato, these exercises are the best of the bunch. Except for Shape Up, which gives you the best workout in the best place: home!

1. Jumping Rope

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Ever wonder why kids are so fit? Jumping rope burns more calories per minute than running and almost any other exercise. It's fun, easy, and portable, so you never have an excuse.

2. Swimming

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A great low-impact workout, swimming is a full-body workout. Moving your body against the resistance of the water uses nearly all of your muscles, and thus keeps your heart rate up and improves your endurance and cardiovascular fitness. It alleviates stress and improves flexibility too.

3. Squats

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Requiring no equipment and able to be done virtually anywhere, squats should be a staple of every fitness routine. Yes, they tone your backside and legs, but they also work your abs and stimulate muscle growth all over. Squats are able to be modified with weights to make them more intense as you improve. No pain, no gain!

4. Yoga

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There are many different kinds of yoga, which benefit the body in different ways. However, at its core (get it?), yoga increases your strength, improves your flexibility, and lowers your blood pressure. Any yogi will attest to how it de-stresses and gives you better posture too. Yoga isn't only good for your physical health, but your mental heath too.

5. Rebounding

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It sounds crazy, but the benefits of rebounding are numerous. In fact, it became popular after NASA research found that it can be more than twice as effective as running on a treadmill. It's great for increasing bone mass, improving digestion, boosting immune function, and increasing endurance. It's also very, very fun.

6. Walking

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Walking — so simple, but so effective. One of the least physically demanding exercises, walking is also one of the most powerful — it facilitates weight loss, improves blood pressure, and reduces the risk of heart disease. It's also low-impact, so almost anybody can do it.

7. Push-ups

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Ah, push-ups — the exercise we all know and hate. You may think these are only for those who want to get buff, but push-ups are great for everybody. Primarily benefiting your upper body, they also drastically benefit your core strength and boost your metabolism — this means more calories burned!

8. Cycling

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Considered to be one of the best cardio exercises, cycling builds strength and muscle tone, builds stamina, and increases joint mobility. Not only will cycling improve your fitness, you can also check out some scenery while you do it!

9. Running Uphill

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Running may be the most tried-and-true exercise there is — it burns calories, helps you to lose weight, and has various other health benefits. What could be better than running, you ask? Easy: running uphill. Adding an incline to your run builds stronger leg muscles, burns more calories, and reduces the risk of injury (because running against gravity results in less impact).

10. And Interval Training

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High-intensity interval training (HIIT) refers to a workout where one alternates between intense bursts of activity followed by less-intense activity for set periods of time. It has been found to burn more fat than regular cardio workouts and can be done quickly, anywhere you want.

But for the best exercise of all, try Shape Up!