Get moving on those calf muscles

This exercise, done regularly, will help strengthen your calf muscles for everyday activities, such as walking briskly

or climbing stairs. Using exercise tubing will increase the resistance to make this move more effective and provide

a convenient variation to other calf exercises.

*

1 Sit on a mat, holding the handle of the exercise tubing in each hand. Bend your right leg, placing your right foot flat on the floor. Wrap the tubing around the ball of your left foot and straighten your left leg in front of you (maintain a slight bend in your left knee). Position your upper arms at your sides, with your elbows bent close to the waist. (If the tubing slips off your foot, create a loop by pushing one handle of the tubing through the other handle, then place the ball of your foot through the loop.) Wrap the extra tubing around one hand, then use both hands to hold the tubing.

2 Pull back slightly on the tubing, using your arms to create resistance. Slowly point your left toes forward by squeezing your left calf muscle. Pause for a moment, then slowly return your toes to the starting position.

*

-- Karen Voight