ElSimple exercises to stay tonedHEALTH+VE)

If you're worried about what will happen to your carefully designed fitness routine, with the gyms shut this Diwali, then don't be. Help is at hand.

Take this opportunity to treat yourself to a much deserved break from the same old, tiring gym routines. Today, Strength and Conditioning coach, Arnav Sarkar, helps us map out five simple exercises to stay toned this Diwali. So take out just 20-30 minutes at home, before starting out on Diwali festivities, and get going with these simple moves to stay fit this October.

Rope jumping: Rope jumping is a simple, yet effective, way to clock in the calorie burn when you're short on time. A quick high-impact exercise, skipping or rope jumping will work your body in minimal time. Invest in a simple rope, available across sports stores for a reasonable price range of Rs. 200 - Rs. 700, and skip for 10-15 minutes. Sarkar suggests that in those 15 minutes, you alternate between full speed and slow.

Shadow kickboxing: Keen on learning footwork and punching techniques? Try shadow kickboxing. It is a light and effective workout without any need for expensive boxing gloves or class routines. In an informative post on how you can Kick Goodbye to Body Fat, Arnav has mentioned Kickboxing's benefits - especially for novices. An excerpt: "Always remember to exhale when executing a punch or a kick. You can begin by practicing shadow boxing style, i.e. against the air. Later on you can start working against a heavy kickboxing bag. The bag will provide resistance, and provide some strengthening, and is more fun!"

Burpees: A short and sweet workout that engages your entire body in one explosive session of high-impact training. Here, Sarkar suggests 50-100 reps done in as few sets as possible. "From a standing position squat down, drop your hands to the ground and jump your feet back to assume a push-up position. Do a push-up. Jump your legs forward to between your hands then jump up into the air bringing your knees to your chest and your hands into the air over your head. Repeat." (via The Prison Workout)

Sprinting: Perhaps the easiest and most fun quick holiday fitness solution of all, the humble sprint works your body like very few other full-body workouts can. Within just 10-20 sprints, you will feel energised and ready to take on the Diwali festivities. Sarkar suggests as many 50-100 meters sprints as possible in 10 minutes. Make sure that you start full-strength sprints (engaging shoulders, core, and legs) only once you have warmed up for at least 7-10 minutes, as this will help with correct technique and help avoid injury.