As we settle in for Spring, we benefit from some cooler morning temperatures and earlier sunrise, to get our day started. Look, we know the heat and humidity is coming, this is North Carolina! If you can, what better way to enjoy our downtown than to start your day exploring and getting in a bit of a workout.
Spend just a few minutes on Google and you’ll see the research is there. Getting outside and getting exercise, have tremendous positive results for your health and wellness.
So, join us as we explore some stops along the way in Downtown Cary to help start your day in a positive way.
Our first stop is the Cary Arts Center and a beginner’s tricep, leg, and chest workout.
Depending on where you’re starting from, before the workout, we may need to warm up a bit. If you’re within walking distance, you could walk there. If you need to drive, maybe park at the Library Parking Deck or over in Ashworth’s Village and walking from there. If you end up at Ashworth’s Village you can pop in for a coffee or some breakfast at places like Esteamed Coffee and Once in a Blue Moon (among other great options in Downtown Cary).
Once you get to the Cary Arts Center pick one of the concrete tree planters. Our first exercise will work the triceps.
Start by sitting on the planter and placing both your hands on the top of the planter, palms down, fingers facing out, on either side of you. Next, get in the starting position by carefully stepping your feet forward a bit, and extending your bottom off the planter. Then while bending your elbows, drop your bottom towards the ground. You do not have to go all the way to the ground. Then push back up to the starting position.
That is one repetition. Aim for 12-15 repetitions.
To make this exercise harder, you can extend your legs, so they are perfectly straight and only your heels are on the ground.
Next, we’ll work our legs by simply walking up the center steps (holding on to the railing if you need it) and then coming down one of the side ramps. If that seems a bit too easy, you can step up two at a time.
When you get down to the bottom of the ramp you are going to use the short wall to do inclined pushups. This is our chest exercise.
Stepping 3 to 4 feet away from the wall, place both hands on the wall (shoulder width apart) and lean your chest towards the wall, keeping your body perfectly straight. The lower the wall the harder it is, so if you’re struggling at first, find a section of the wall that is a bit higher.
Once again, aim for 12-15 repetitions.
All three of these exercises (triceps, leg & chest) equal one set. Try repeating the entire set at least three times, taking a short break between each set.
That’s it! You’re done!
Congratulations on enjoying the downtown, getting in some exercise, and positively starting your day. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for more downtown workout spots and exercises, please visit our Instagram page and send us a message.