This Is The Perfect Workout Routine For When Mercury Is In Retrograde

If you've been feeling like something is off, weird, or downright out of whack recently, good ol' mercury in retrograde may be to blame. For those of you who aren't astrology buffs, here's the deal with MIR: Three to four times a year, Mercury appears to switch directions (hence, retrograde). Although this is technically an optical illusion, astrologers believe the phenomenon can cause a whole slew of wackiness, from transportation to communication issues. “This phenomenon is one of the few that affects everyone in a fairly uniform way, and its effects are always obvious,” says Susan Miller, founder of AstrologyZone.com. "When Mercury retrogrades, think of it as an instant signal that the wind is changing direction.”

And while not everyone is keen to pointing fingers at planetary disturbances for day-to-day problems, if you're an astrology fan, you may be treading especially cautiously during this time. Miller notes “Mercury rules anything that begins with ‘re’: redo, reassess, repair, repeat, redesign, or revisit," which means this is generally not a great time to switch things up and try something new. "Although these Mercury retrograde periods can be frustrating, they allow us to stop, look, listen, and redirect our energies more productively."

And that goes for your workouts, too. Rather than dive into a new routine during this cosmically chaotic time, consider sticking with tried-and-true movements, and simplifying your workout so it solely relies on your body weight, rather than complex machines. “It’s common to feel uninspired, in a rut and just straight “bleh,” said Christina Muccio, Reebok trainer and instructor at Boston’s Barry’s Bootcamp and B/SPOKE. "Revisiting an old workout, resetting back to a basic workout, or circling back in with you favorite trainer could help you reset to sweat." (The Slim, Sexy, Strong Workout DVD is the fast, flexible workout you've been waiting for!)

Here, Muccio has put together an exclusive workout for Women's Health that does just that. Each of the nine moves is simple, equipment-free, and likely an exercise you're already familiar with. But, together, these moves make for an effective routine that's sure to keep your body feeling strong and stable while Mercury is doing its thing. So head outside, work up a sweat, and remember the cosmos will be back in order in no time.

Perform 15 reps of each movement 4x.