Summer means extra-hot temperatures and big wardrobe changes.   I think it’s possible to hear a collective sigh of discouragement when the sleeveless tops emerge from the closet and the arms must come out from under cover.  

It’s never too late to start toning your arms and you don’t have to belong to a gym to do it.  There is a simple way to get started without feeling like you’ve joined a boot camp.  The answer is slow-motion wall push-ups.  Here’s how:

• Stand facing a wall with your feet shoulder-width apart and about 2 feet from the wall.
• Place your hands on the wall, in line with each shoulder, elbows close to your sides.
• Lean into the wall slowly, bringing the shoulders close to the wall.  Push through the palms of your hands to return to the start position.
• Begin with as many repetitions as you can do without discomfort.  As you improve, add more repetitions.  Remember to keep the emphasis on slow-motion movements.
• You can change the hand position for more improvement.  Simply move your hands from the parallel position on the wall to a diamond shape with the tips of the thumbs and the tips of the index fingers touching.  
• As with any form of exercise, if you feel pain, stop and adjust your position until it feels more comfortable.  Pain is a message from your body that should not be ignored.
• At some point, you might want to graduate to slow-motion push-ups from a plank position on the floor.  Hands and arms should remain close to the sides of the torso.  Experiment with your position until it feels comfortably workable.  Start with just a few repetitions and work up to more as you feel stronger.

These slow-motion push-ups are easy to do and ideal for anyone who has a desire for toned arms. The good news is, you can do these exercises anywhere, no equipment required.  Plus, they’re free!

- Pam Brooks

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