By Phillip Tomlinson, Personal Trainer

How about a question?

Would you rather be a dog or a tree?

Yes, I know, trees are vital to our environment – combatting greenhouse effect, providing oxygen, and so on.  But, for me, as I recall a dog and a tree, on my recent visit to the park, I can’t help but make this definite choice:

I’d rather have, at that instance, been the fellow on four legs – one raised way up – doing his business against the tree.

Think you could do that without a hitch as easily as that dog did?  Since we are both on the same page, I just know you wouldn’t be thinking of anything else other than functionality here.

So, since something tells me, whether you’re a guy or a gal, you’re interested in getting a leg up, you’ll find that the following *BodinSync* routine is sure to boost your core performance.

· Feet together, pointing forward, bend at the waist placing your hands on a support in front of you, as in *diagram 1*.

 

 

 

 

 

· Standing firmly on one leg, raise the other up out to the side as in *diagram 2*, while bending your knee. The raised leg should form a right angle with the ground.

 

 

 

 

· Slowly straighten the raised leg behind you, pointing your heel as in *diagram 3*. Hold for a five-second count.

· Slowly retract your leg back to the *diagram 1* position.

 

 

· Straighten your leg, this time extending it out to the side while pointing your toes, as in *diagram 4*. Hold for a five-second count.

· Retract your leg, returning to the *diagram 1* position. *THAT’S ONE REPETITION*. Do 10 before switching to complete 10 on the other leg.

TIP: If you are unable to complete 10 consecutive repetitions., pause after five and resume after 15 seconds.