Strong Upper Body

Equipment: Weighted Objects (water bottles, dumbbells, household objects), optional high backed chair or wall

Format: Perform round 1 (moves 1-9) for 0:30 each, round 2 (moves 1-7) for 0:45 each and round 3 (moves 1-5) for 1:00 each.

​​Move 1: Down Dog to Cobra

• Begin in a tall plank position on your mat with shoulders stacked over wrists, braced core, a flat back and neutral gaze (not looking up or down).
• Send your hips up and back, keeping your head in line with your arms as you come into a down dog. Your weight should be evenly distributed between your palms, and your heels should reach toward the mat (bending at the knees is helpful for tight hamstrings).
• Shift back into a tall plank and lower yourself with control down to your belly on the mat, untucking your toes so that the tops of your feet are on the mat.
• Keeping your palms on the mat underneath your shoulders, use the strength of your back to lift your torso off of the mat, being mindful of not shrugging your shoulders (your pelvis, lower ribcage and abdomen will remain on the mat)
• With control, lower your torso back to the mat, tuck your toes and press yourself back up to a tall plank position.
• Repeat this sequence for allotted time.
• MOD: Perform the pushup portions of this sequence with your knees on the mat.

Move 2: 3 Way Biceps Curls

• Begin standing with weighted objects in both hands and palms facing forward at your thighs.
  With a braced core and shoulders back and down (as if they were against a wall), bend at the elbows to curl the weights up to shoulder height.
• With control, lower the weights to the starting position.
• Rotate at the shoulders so that your palms are now facing out, right and left, and curl the weights up to shoulder height.
• Lower the weights with control to starting position, rotate your arms so that your palms are facing your sides and curl the weights up to shoulder height.
• Be mindful that you’re keeping your elbows in at your ribcage for the duration of the curls.
• Repeat sequence for allotted time.

Move 3: Alternating Overhead Press to Knee Raise

• Begin standing with feet hip distance apart, core braced, shoulders back and down (as if they were against a wall) and with one weight in each hand at shoulder height, palms facing each other.
• Maintaining a braced core, press the weight in your right hand straight up overhead, keeping your shoulder in its engaged position back and down and not allowing it to rotate forward.
• As you press your right weight up, simultaneously stabilize through your right foot on the mat as you drive your left knee up to hip height.
• Lower the weight and lifted leg with control back to the starting position and switch sides.
• Continue alternating sides for allotted time.
• MOD: Perform the overhead press and knee raises separately, first pressing both weights overhead and then alternating raising each knee.

Love having workouts you can do ANYWHERE, ANYTIME – and a well-designed plan to follow so you get the BEST RESULTS?  Take a 30-day Challenge in Rock Your Life and have workouts like this formatted into a plan to follow!

Move 4: Hand Release Push Ups

• Begin in a tall plank position on your mat with shoulders stacked over wrists, braced core, back flat and neutral gaze (not looking up or down).
• Bend your arms and lower your body to the mat while keeping your shoulders away from your ears. Be mindful that your hips and torso are moving in one line.
• Maintaining a prone position on your belly, use the muscles of your upper back to lift your palms away from the mat, squeezing in-between your shoulder blades.
• Plant your palms back beneath your shoulders and press yourself back up to a tall plank position.
• Repeat sequence for allotted time.
• MOD: Perform the pushup portions of this sequence with your knees on the mat.

Move 5: Triceps Kickback

• Stand with your core braced, chest up, shoulders back and down (as if they were against a wall), and weighted objects in both hands.
• Hinge forward at the hips at a 45 degree angle with your body with a flat back, and engage between your shoulders, so they’re not rounding forward. Allow your dumbbells to hang beneath your chest and keep your head and neck in a neutral position.
• Draw your elbows up and back beside your ribcage and perform tricep kickback by kicking your arms straight back and contracting your triceps.
• Keep your elbows beside your ribcage as you bend your arms and repeat the kickback from a hinged position for allotted time.

Move 6: Jumping Jacks

• Start by standing with feet together and arms by your sides, core braced and shoulders back and down.
• Simultaneously jump your feet out wide as you bring your arms out and above your head, being mindful of now shrugging your shoulders.
• Jump your feet back together and bring arms back down to your sides, returning to your starting position and repeat for allotted time.
• MOD: Remove the jump and alternate stepping your feet out one at a time while bringing your arms over head.

Move 7: High Pull Row

• With weighted objects in both hands, palms facing your body, begin by standing with feet hip width apart, core braced, and shoulders back and down (as if they were against a wall).
• Push your hips back and hinge forward while maintaining a flat back, slightly bending your knees and keeping the weighted objects close to your shins.
• As you drive through your feet and squeeze your glutes to come back to standing, draw your weighted objects up and back evenly for a high pull row, leading with your elbows. Notice the muscles working between your shoulder blades.
• Repeat sequence for allotted time.

Move 8: Side Knee Drive R

• Begin by standing with your core braced, right foot extended to the side, and arms overhead.
• Powerfully drive your right knee out and up for an oblique crunch as you swiftly bring your arms down on either side of the knee, rotating your torso to face the raised knee.
• Return to the starting position with control.
• Repeat for the allotted time and be mindful that you are maintaining an elevated chest and braced core throughout this move.
• MOD: Hold on to the back of a chair or with your hand on a wall to assist with balance throughout this sequence.

Move 9: Side Knee Drive L

• Begin by standing with your core braced, left foot extended to the side, and arms overhead.
• Powerfully drive your left knee out and up for an oblique crunch as you swiftly bring your arms down on either side of the knee, rotating your torso to face the raised knee.
• Return to the starting position with control.
• Repeat for the allotted time and be mindful that you are maintaining an elevated chest and braced core throughout this move.
• MOD: Hold on to the back of a chair or with your hand on a wall to assist with balance throughout this sequence.