Exercises You Can Do While Sitting in a Car

Traffic jams are not an unfamiliar occurrence. Particularly, in big cities, traffic can get hectic during peak hours. You may end up spending quite some time waiting for the other vehicles to move forward. While waiting can be stressful, sitting for prolonged periods is also not good for health. The long waiting periods can also contribute to people missing their daily activities such as exercises. Luckily, there are some exercises you can do while sitting in a car.

Exercising in Your Car 

Excessive sitting can take a toll on your health. If your daily routine involves travelling in a car, traffic jams might not be an unfamiliar sight. Traffic can particularly get heavy during peak hours. That said, the determination to maintain a healthy lifestyle can be satisfied with several exercises you can do while sitting in a car.

It must be kept in mind that these exercises should be performed when the vehicle is not in motion. Any careless driving act caught on the new traffic cameras in UAE can land you in trouble with the law.

These simple car exercises should not divert your attention from driving, therefore must be performed when the car is not in motion. There are several benefits of car exercise you should be aware of. The benefits are as follows:

• Easy to do exercises
• Saves you time
• Helps pass the time in traffic jams or similar events
• Help you maintain a healthy lifestyle

Some Exercises You can do While Sitting in a Car

There are several exercises you can do while sitting in a car that can help you avoid a sedentary lifestyle and keep your fitness in check. While waiting in traffic or in the parking lot, these exercises can help tone your muscles and help you work off some energy. The exercises you can do while sitting in a car are listed as follows:

TRICEP AND SEAT PUSHES

If you are the driver, the steering wheel can be a viable aid for your car workout. There are several types of steering wheels fully capable of withstanding some weight. Grab the steering wheel at 10 and 2 with your elbows loose and bent. Straighten your elbows while placing your back against the car seat. Continue this motion several times to put pressure on the triceps.

Passengers can make use of the seats to carry out the tricep workout. Place your hands on the seat adjacent to your hips with your elbows bent and relaxed. Lift up your body by straightening your elbows and bring it back down. You should feel the pressure exerted on your triceps. Additionally, make sure your vehicle is parked when you carry out these exercises.

SEATED BODY BENDS

If you are wondering how do you burn calories sitting in a car, side bends can be one answer to that. Side bends are also among the exercises you can do while sitting in a car. Place your hand on the back of your head with your fingers clasped. Keep a straight spine and bend your body towards the left and right. The more you bend, the better stretch you will get. Try this bend on both sides in the passenger seat with more space for proper stretching. 

Weather in the UAE can tend to be on the higher side. You may end up sweating after prolonged exercises if the car’s air conditioning is not on. Ensure proper temperature inside your car. Additionally, cooled and ventilated seats can also help keep the temperatures in check.

CALF RAISES

Calf raises are one of the most common and simple exercises you can do in your car. While sitting with a straight back, place your feet flat on the car floor. Lift your heels high and transfer the pressure on your feet fingers to stretch the calves.

Conversely, taking the same position, transfer the weight on the heel while lifting the front part of your feet. This would exert pressure on the shins. Continue the motion for the desired number of reps for a proper feel.

INNER THIGH EXERCISE

A tennis ball can help you with several exercises you can do while sitting in a car. For instance, it comes in handy for the inner thigh exercise. You can place the tennis ball in between your knees and squeeze it with your inner thighs. Give the ball a proper squeeze and feel the contractions. Adjust the driver’s seat correctly to avoid any mishaps during the exercise.

FOREARM EXERCISE

A forearm pump is also among the exercises you can do while sitting in a car. You can use a tennis ball, hand strengthener or any similar instrument. Simply keep the item in your hand and squeeze it with full force. It is a relatively simple exercise and you can do it several times a day.

SHOULDER AND CHEST EXERCISE

It is another exercise where a tennis ball comes into play. You can place a tennis ball in between your palms with the fingers clasped around it. Bring your hands to chest height and squeeze the ball between your palms. Release the pressure and then squeeze it again. This should exert pressure on your shoulders and chest.

CHIN TUCKS

Chin tucks are also among the easiest exercises you can do while sitting in a car. Bring your chin close to the chest and hold the position for 5-7 seconds. Move your head up and take it back to the headrest. You can go as many reps as you please. Chin tucks are one of the things to do while sitting in a car waiting. These can help improve your posture and are good for neck muscles.

These were all the exercises you can do while sitting in a car. In addition to these, you can also try breathing exercises for the core and glutes. Long waits in traffic and excessive sitting can all contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle. If you were wondering what exercise can I do while sitting in a car, these exercises should be the answer to that.

That said, it is strongly advised that you only carry out these exercises when your car is not in motion. Adherence to the law should be the first priority and doing these exercises while driving can put your safety at risk. Apart from that, you should avoid mobile usage while driving as there are mobile radars in the UAE to catch such offenders. Maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow the rules at all times to avoid trouble with the law. Additionally, check out these tips to keep calm during traffic jams if you often encounter heavy traffic.

Modern vehicles come with unique features for better climate control and spacious interior which can all be helpful for car workouts. Browse through these used cars for sale in the UAE and select from a wide variety of modern vehicles listed.

Stay safe, stay fit and stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more driving tips.