All you need is basic household furniture - a stool, a chair, a desk, and you're on your way, says Nawaz Modi Singhania

Tricep Dips
The triceps, the muscles in the back of your upper arm, are a problem area for many women. Because of the way they sag, they are nick-named 'bye-bye arms'.

What to do: Position yourself against a small coffee table or even a chair seat (Fig 1). Keeping the hips close to, but off the edge of your chosen piece of furniture, bend the arms at the elbows and allow your hips to dip down while breathing in. Breathe out while straightening the arms and coming back up. Although you want to straighten the arms out when coming up, make sure you never lock the elbow joint. To intensify your work, keep the legs straight out in front of you.

Remember: This exercise is just about the bending and straightening of your arms. Don't rock the hips forward and back, or up and down.

Lunges: Forward And Backward
Ever worried about your lower body? Here's the wonder trick!

What to do: Well, lunge, as demonstrated (Fig 2). Lunging forward targets mainly the quads, (front of the thighs). Lunging backward zeros in mainly on the glutes (the butt) and the hamstrings (the back of the upper legs). Alternate legs when you get started, but later, go with one leg at a time to intensify your work.

Remember: The wider and lower you lunge, the harder the exercise and the greater the result. Those with a knee problem should keep their lunges shallow and narrow, or avoid the exercise. Keep the back straight when lunging and always check to make sure that the leading leg is correctly aligned, as in, the knee falls somewhere within the profile of your foot (and not beyond it, or to the left or right of it). This is vital in keeping the knee safe. Inhale as you lunge and exhale as you come back up.

Calf Raises
Many people have under-developed, badly shaped calves and are naturally very self-conscious about them.
What to do: Stand as shown (Fig 3). Rise up onto your toes while breathing out and lower your back down while breathing in.

Remember: As you get stronger and find that you can overload, make sure that when lowering the heels, you still keep them off the floor. This intensifies your work. Make it a point to keep your legs totally straight throughout the exercise. Bending the knees takes the pressure off the calves.

Abs
And the most desirable-rock-hard, flat abs are a non-negotiable must-have!

What to do: While sitting on the edge of a stool, keep both legs bent and apart from one another. Lean backwards - half-way between sitting up and lying down. Remain frozen in this reclined position with your abs held inward. Slowly count to 10 before sitting upright to relax for a few moments. Leaving the arms extended by your side and parallel to the floor is the easiest option. As you get stronger and can take on more, bring the fists to your forehead, elbows bent and close together in front of you. To make the exercise even tougher, extend both arms straight up overhead.

This works the main abdominal muscle, the rectus abdominus, which is also nicknamed the 'six pack'.

To include the below belly abdominal group, get into the previously described position and get your right ankle up upon your left knee. Hold this position for a slow count of 10. You can switch legs at a later stage. This targets both the main abdominal muscle (rectus abdominus) and the transverse abdominus which sits in the pelvic cavity.

Remember: Make sure the spine is rounded over and your chin is lowered close to the chest at all times. Never hold your breath at any time during this exercise. Right through, breathe normally but deeply.

Note: Never embark on a fitness programme without first checking with your GP, & consulting a Fitness Professional.