Upper Body and Core Smash

Circuit

Move 1: Plank Walk Out to Cross Body Climber

• Begin standing at the back of your mat.
• Bend your knees to hinge at the hips, planting your hands to walk yourself out to a tall plank position with shoulders stacked over your wrists, core braced, and back flat.
• Keeping your hips level with the mat, alternate driving your knees to opposite elbows, once on each side.
• Walk your hands back towards your feet to stand at the starting position and repeat the sequence.
• MOD: Make this an elevated tall plank by placing your hands on an elevated surface at the end of your walkout.

Move 2: Overhead Tricep Extension

• Begin in a kneeling position with core braced and shoulders back and down (as if they were against a wall).
• Hold one weighted object overhead with both hands (or two lighter weighted objects in both hands) so that your arms are straight overhead.
• Slowly lower the weight behind your head by bending your elbows, being mindful of not letting the elbows flare out too much.
• Once your forearms move beyond parallel to the floor, bring the weight back up to the starting position and repeat.
• Your upper arms should remain in place throughout the movement so that your elbows aren’t moving too far forward or backward.
• MOD for extra core challenge: As you lower your forearms, sit your butt towards your feet and back up again as you straighten your arms, maintaining a braced core and preventing any arching in the spine.

Move 3: Biceps Curl Bent Arm Lateral Raise

• Begin standing with weighted objects in both hands and palms facing forward.
• 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 half-way so the elbows are at a 90 degree bend. Be mindful to keep your elbows in at your ribcage for the duration of the curl.
• From this position, raise both arms out to the side to shoulder height, maintaining a slight bend in the elbows and leading with your shoulders and elbows rather than your wrists.
• Slowly bring your elbows back in beside your ribcage and lower the weights to the starting position.
• Repeat this sequence for max reps.

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Move 4: Bicycle Crunches – option to use your exercise ball

• Begin lying on your back with your legs bent, knees over your hips, and hands behind your head without pulling your head forward.
• Contract your abdominals by bringing your chest forward and rotating at the torso to bring your right elbow to your left knee, simultaneously extending your right leg.
• Slowly and gently lower yourself back toward the ground and repeat with your left elbow to right knee and extended left leg.
• Be sure your lower back stays in gentle contact with the mat throughout this movement.
• MOD: Instead of extending the opposite leg, keep both legs bent and tap your toes to the mat.
• MOD for the ball: Using a stability ball to support your mid to lower back, begin in a reverse tabletop, knees bent at 90 degrees, with feet firmly planted on the mat (take a wider stance for more stability).
• With hands supporting your head, alternate drawing opposite knee to opposite elbow, keeping the other foot planted on the mat.

Move 5: Chest Press to Alternating Leg Drop

• Begin lying on your back, knees bent, feet firmly planted on the mat and weighted objects in both hands.
• With a braced core and lower back making gentle contact with the mat, extend your arms straight over your chest with palms facing your knees.
• Draw your elbows down in line with your shoulders as you bend your arms, lowering the weights with control. Press the weights back over your chest to return to the starting position.
• As you press your arms up, draw one knee into your chest. Then extend the same leg as you lower the weights. Alternate drawing each knee in with every chest press.
• MOD: Don’t extend the leg after drawing it in towards your chest or remove the lower body portion entirely, keeping the feet planted on the mat.

Move 6: Reverse Fly

• 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.
• 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.

Finisher:

Squat to Press

• 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.