These 5 exercises women over 40 should do every week. Your body will be in great shape

Exercise is a very important part of maintaining our health, and as we get older, it becomes even more important in helping to prevent other health problems.

For women who are going through and have gone through menopause, there are certain exercises in particular that are useful to maintaining health and wellness.

As we get older, certain exercises are no longer really an option as they can cause pain and injuries that were easy to shake off in our 20's. But this doesn't mean that exercising should come to a halt. Rather, it should be adjusted, and exercises that will still do the necessary work on our bodies are easy to come by.

While there are many who argue they don't have the time in their busy work lives for exercise, there are many benefits to exercise that are an excellent advocate for finding the time to do even the most basic exercises on a daily basis.

For starters, apart from keeping us healthy and saving on medical costs for unnecessary conditions later in life, exercise is a greater stress reliever, releasing both endorphins and adrenaline. This makes it the perfect work break for anyone, particularly people who are so busy they can't fit in a gym session.

Here are just five exercises that are important to fit into the day, particularly for women who are fighting with the dreaded menopause.

1. Burpees

From a standing positing, squat down with your hands on the ground in front of you. Kick your feet back so that you are in a plank position. Once there, reverse the steps to return to a standing position. Repeat 20-30 times.

2. Squats

From a standing position with the knees hip width apart, bend the knees, keeping the back straight. Use the muscles in the thigh and buttocks to perform this movement, not the knee joints.

This can also be done with light weights in the hands.

3. Plank

A seemingly simple exercise with impressive results. It is important to keep the core muscles strengthened as it is the support system for the back and spine, and can help in the long-run to prevent the development of back pain.

Placing your forearms on the ground and digging your toes into the ground with your both knees and ankles touching, keep a straight line from your head to your ankles, not lowering your torso or raising your hips. Hold the position for 20 seconds and repeat 3-4 times.

4. Lunge

From a standing position with your hands on your hips, take one big step forward with one foot, and bend both knees. You should create a 90 degree angle between your thigh and your calf on both legs. Keep your back straight and stomach tucked in while you do this.

5. Straight leg raise

Lying on your back on the ground, raise both your legs together, keeping the knees and ankles together, straight up into the air. This will work both the core and thigh muscles. Repeat 20-30 times.