FEELING GREAT: Don’t overlook the basics and overcomplicate your exercise

"These multi-coloured exercise training bands are among the best sellers in the exercise world."

Last week, I spoke about the idea of exercise being simple: that you don’t need to keep up with the latest fads and trends to start your journey to becoming healthy and feeling great.

So, have you started using an exercise ball yet? Here’s the other nine non-tech tools I recommend to clients in the Physio Rooms.

A resistance band - these multi-coloured exercise training bands are among the best sellers in the exercise world. You may see footballers using them as part of their pre-match warm-ups.

When I’m at Pools I often spend time watching the players warm up with the fitness coaches and I’ve seen more teams using them.

They are great for improving muscle tone, helping avoid muscle tension.

A notepad and pencil - what doesn’t get written down can’t be measured. And if it isn’t being measured, it isn’t worth doing. Track progress or set health goals by marking them down.

Skipping rope – great for restoring balance after a knee or ankle sprain.

Pillow – stuff it behind the small of your back when you sit for long periods. It will improve your posture, which means you will look and feel healthier, and with that, reduce stress and tension on your back muscles.

The bottom step of a set of stairs – great for building knee strength. If you’re suffering with something like arthritis of your knees, doing simple, non-impact exercises at the bottom of your stairs will reduce the chance of pain and stiffness.

Walking – Even a 15-minute brisk walk is enough time to get close to a mile walked.

Drink water - It’s cheap and healthy.

Shopping – Pop to the shops for your weekly groceries instead of buying online and make sure to use a basket instead of a trolley (work those biceps!).

Technology – Download a free health app to your phone and you can get tailored exercises and stretches to become part of your daily routine!

Remember to be careful and not to overlook the basics and overcomplicate exercise, because this often makes it much more difficult to stick to them. Doing the basics will make a difference to your health in the long run, not how complicated or trendy whatever you’re doing seems to be at the time.