This is another post in our series of Fitness Saturday exercises and workouts appropriate to women in the second half of life. Personal trainer Brooke Marrone, president and founder of Brooke Marrone Fitness, in New York City, is our fitness guru.

Side-lying inner-thigh exercises, another great resistance move, work the adductor muscles—more commonly known as the inner thighs. Working these muscles not only helps your legs look better, it’s also an incredibly effective exercise for strengthening the knees, ligaments, and tendons, and also improving bone density. 

1. Lying on your side, lengthen your bottom leg and bend your top leg in front of your body at hip height. You can rest your knee on the floor or on a yoga block or foam roller. 

2. Keep your head propped up with your bottom hand or rest it down on your arm. Your hips and shoulders should be stacked and your front hand placed in front of your body.

3. It’s important to keep your body in a strong, straight line, abs engaged and torso stable throughout the exercise. Exhale and lift your bottom leg a few inches off the floor and inhale as you bring your leg almost all the way back down. Make sure to keep your foot flexed and your leg straight, in line with your body. Go up only as high as you can while keeping proper form.

4. Repeat two sets of 15 to 25 singles on each leg. To advance, end each set with a set of 20 small pulses at the top.