Full Body Ladder Workout

Move 1: Squat to press (8-12)

• Begin standing with your feet about hip distance apart, with your shoulders back and down (as if they were against a wall) while holding weighted objects on your shoulders
• Send your hips back as you come into a squat, bracing your core and keeping your chest up, allowing your knees to track in line with your toes.
• Drive back up using the strength of your glutes and press your arms up overhead. Your weighted objects can face forward or face each other. Bring them back down to your shoulders, and repeat the squat.
• MOD: Use an elevated surface like a couch, chair ottoman or bench to check your squat form and ensure you’re using the correct muscles. Consider practicing this move without any weighted objects to start, and instead pressing soft fists overhead.

Move 2: 2-way biceps curls (5-7)

• 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. Be mindful that you’re keeping your elbows in at your ribcage for the duration of the curls.
• Repeat sequence for max rep range.

Move 3: Jump overs (10/10)

• Place a yoga block (or any other barrier-type object) in the middle of your mat and stand on the far left side of the mat with your knees bent.
• Power through your feet to explode over the barrier to the right (use your arms to propel you).
• Land lightly with a braced core and evenly distribute your weight along each entire foot while allowing your hips and knees to bend to absorb force. Your knees should be in line with your toes as you set up to jump back to the left.
• MOD: Make this low impact by taking out the jump and step one foot at a time over the barrier, coming into a squat on the other side. Keep your core braced and your chest elevated, and drive through the heels to stand. Repeat step over and squat for allotted time.

Move 4: Staggered stance DL’s (8-12 each side)

• Begin standing with your feet hip distance apart, core braced and step your left leg back to a staggered stance.
• With a weighted object in each hand, keep your upper body engaged and shoulders back and down, not allowing them to rotate forward as you push your hips back, hinging at the waist, keeping the weights close to your front shin.
• Bend forward as far as you can while maintaining a flat back and then drive through your right heel to come back to standing and squeeze your glutes at the top.
• Repeat for max reps and switch sides.
• MOD: Remove the weighted objects and do this sequence with just your bodyweight.

Move 5: Burpees (0:30-0:45)

• Begin standing at the top of your mat with your core braced and chest upright.
• Bend your knees, plant your hands on the mat, and jump your feet back into a tall plank position with shoulders stacked over wrists, braced core, back flat and neutral gaze (not looking up or down).
• Bend your arms and lower yourself toward the mat for a push-up while keeping your shoulders away from your ears. Be mindful that your hips and torso are moving in one line.
• Maintaining a braced core and flat back, push yourself back up to the starting position.
• Jump your feet back up to your hands and drive through the heels to stand or jump.
• Repeat for allotted time.
• MOD: For low impact, remove jumps and step your feet out and in.
• Complete the push-ups with your knees on the mat or complete the entire sequence with your hands planted on an elevated surface (bench/couch/chair) instead of the mat.

Move 6: Narrow row to reverse flye (8-12)

• 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, 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, squeezing your back muscles.
• Slowly lower the weights with control to the hanging position beneath your chest.
• Using the muscles between your shoulder blades, lift both arms out to the side leading with your shoulders and elbows rather than your wrists. It’s natural to have a slight bend in the elbows.
• With control, return to the starting position and repeat sequence for max reps.