Furniture Sliders: unconventional tools to amp up your workout

Sliders may be used for moving furniture, but they can also sub as inexpensive and effective workout equipment! With these basic tools, you can work just about any area of the body (type "slider exercises" into YouTube to see for yourself). I've recently started experimenting with various slider moves, and my current routine of choice hits the abs and arms.

Not too long ago, I stumbled across a video in which Valerie Waters of A-List Look and Cassey Ho of Blogilates collaborate on a heart-pumping, body-moving workout. It's another one of those great at-home routines that requires minimal space and time— and nothing beats that. Not to mention, using the sliders makes you feel as if you're playing a game of air hockey, as noted by Cassey. It's a pretty good time.

These exercises primarily work the core, but you'll feel a good burn in your arms while doing each move. If you're up to the challenge but lack a pair of sliders (which you can purchase at your local Home Depot or Lowes), you can use washcloths or paper towels if you're on a hardwood floor or a couple of paper plates if you're on carpet. Now go on and get to sliding into that toned bod!

Workouts: targeting the obliques

In working toward a solid set of abs, the oblique muscles are often overlooked. Comprised of two separate muscles set perpendicular to each other, the external obliques run at a diagonal from the lower ribs to the pelvis and the internal obliques run from the lower three ribs to the lower back. The two work together to support the back and spine, allowing us to twist and bend at the torso and bend from side to side. Strong obliques can result in improved posture, a strong lower back, and a V-cut midsection (a mighty fine plus).

If you're in need of some oblique-strengthening exercises to add into your abs routine, consider implementing a few sets of twisting side planks, spiderman climbers (you can choose to add a push-up in to simultaneously work your arms and chest), russian twists, or cross crunches. For a quick, full-length obliques routine with some added cardio, check out A-List Look's Sleek, Sexy Oblique Exercises video below!