Get Buff and Bikini Ready

Bikini

By Melissa Williams

I’m ready to tone up for the summer but hitting the gym with a standard set of dumbbells doesn’t sound like it’s much up my alley. If you fall into this category as well, give one of these exercises a try.

I’m newly in love with TRX suspension training. With the TRX you utilize straps that are suspended from the ceiling, changing position and your body angle to give your entire body a workout. Trust me: this one can be hard!

Ready to work it out at home? Try these yoga-inspired exercises.

Work your back and core:

Come into a full plank position (or drop your knees to the ground). Your wrists should be underneath your shoulders. Take a deep inhale and on your exhale, lift your right arm off the floor, bending your elbow by your waist. Inhale here and exhale, lower your hand back to the floor. Switch sides and work up to 8 reps.

Work your core:

Sit with your knees bent and your feet on the floor. Slowly lift your feet so your shins are parallel with the earth. Draw your belly back into your spine. On an exhale slowly lower your right foot as if you were tapping your toes into the water. Inhale, come back to center, switch sides. Repeat 15 times.

Lovely legs:

Work your way into lunge from the back of your mat as opposed to the top. Standing with your feet together, take a deep inhale. On the exhale, slowly step your right foot forward landing in a lunge. Inhale, and on your exhale, come back to standing. Switch sides. Try to do 10 reps.