7 Exercises You Can do While Waiting in Line ...

Photo Credit: *alicja*

With one or both hands on your shopping cart for support and balance, slowly raise yourself onto your tip-toes, stretching your calf muscles, then lower yourself lowly back down to the flats of your feet, stretching slightly backwards onto your heels. Do the entire line slowly, clenching your calf muscles. Try for three sets of 12, with about 15 to 30 seconds between sets. The calf raises are a great exercise to do while you’re waiting in line, because they’re very subtle, so not many people will notice what you’re doing…

Photo Credit: butterflyblue

This is another very discreet exercise you can do while waiting in line. While standing on the balls of your feet, clench your buttocks together for three seconds, tightly, then slowly release and go back to the flats of your feet. Repeat for three sets of ten to twelve, with 15 to 30 seconds between sets. This exercise is great for toning your bootie!

This is a great exercise if you’re waiting in line outdoors, or where there’s a little more room. Use two water or soda bottles as dumbbells, with one in each hand, arms straight down at your sides. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and raise your arms slowly until they are straight out, like you’re forming a letter “T.” Lower your arms back to your sides. This may not seem like much of an exercise, but by the time you finish three sets of 8 to 10 (with 15 to 30 seconds between sets), you’ll be shaky and a little sore!

Photo Credit: myyogaonline

This is one of my favorite yoga positions, and it’s perfect to do while you’re standing in line. Stand straight, with your stomach in and your arms loose at your sides. Keep your right foot flat on the ground, but bring your left foot up to the side of your knee, with your hands on your shopping cart or at your waist to steady you. It’s a very good, stretchy feeling, isn’t it?

This exercise is not at all subtle, and does require a little room, but if you’re waiting in a long line, perhaps for hours to buy concert tickets, then it’s perfect for getting the blood flowing! Stand up straight with your hands on your hips, and take a step forward with your right foot, bending both knees as though you’re kneeling. Keep your back straight! Step back into place, then step forward with your left foot. Repeat 10 to 12 times each side, for three sets. You’ll be a little winded at the end, but it feels good!

Squats are the sisters to lunges, and both are excellent work for toning your legs. Stand straight, then bend at your waist as though you’re going to sit down. When you reach the “sitting” position, return standing. Keep your back straight the whole time, and for balance, keep your arms out straight in front of you. Repeat this 10 to 12 times, for three sets. Whew!

This will also help you stretch your legs, tone your butt, and get the blood flowing while you’re waiting in line! Grab two water bottles, one in each hand, and “roll” them down the front of your legs, bending at the waist. Go down slowly, as low as you can, keeping your buttock muscle tight as you stand up again. Don’t stand up all the way! When you’re just about upright again, go back down again, slowly, and repeat 10 to 12 times, for three sets. This one will leave you a little winded, but happy!

I’m sure there are a lot of other great exercises you can do while you’re waiting in line, like jumping jacks or even just running in place, or if you have enough room, push-ups. But these are my favorites! What do you do to kill time when you’re standing in line? Have you tried any of these exercises to help pass the time? Or are there other exercises you can suggest? Please let me know!

Top Photo Credit: Just a guy who likes to take pictures