As summer winds down, you’re likely done trying to get your bikini body or Phelps-like abs. But that doesn’t mean you should go hide in sweats for the next nine months. We enlisted Adam Rosante, celeb fitness trainer and founder of The People’s Bootcamp, which offers pay-what-you-can classes in New York, to give us some moves to get you fit for fall.
Why these specific exercises? “(These) exercises target almost every single muscle in the body,” Rosante says.
Perform each exercise for 40 seconds with 10 seconds of rest between each move. After you’ve completed all of them, that’s one cycle. Rest for 60 seconds, then repeat. Perform the cycle three times. Be sure to keep your core tight throughout the entire workout.
Warm-up
Stay away from the long stretches, Rosante says.
“To just jump right into a long, static stretch is a good way to tear the muscle or fatigue it to a point where you then injure yourself during the workout. You just want to move around and really get the blood flowing. It creates pliability and elasticity in the muscles. Then afterwards, you get into that static, long stretch cool down. That will elongate those muscles and help prevent them from tightening up and becoming short and constricted, so you get a nice long, lean body.”
What counts as a good warm-up? Jogging in place for 20 seconds, 20 to 30 seconds of jumping jacks and some torso twists.
“Anything you can do to get your body moving in a functional way,” he says.
Power thrusts
Stand with feet hip-width apart. Squat until thighs are almost parallel to the floor, then place your hands on the floor in front of you. Kick your feet back to a push-up position. Immediately return your feet to the squat position and jump straight up as high as you can, reaching the fingertips up and bringing the knees to the chest. Land with soft knees and immediately drop back into a squat. Continue the sequence for 40 seconds.
Push-outs
Start in a push-up position with hands directly below your shoulders. Perform a push-up. At the top of the motion, lift the left hand up and bring it out about a foot to the left on the ground. Perform another push-up with staggered hands. At the top of the motion, explode the left hand back to normal push-up position. Do another push-up. Repeat the move with the right hand. Continue, alternating for 40 seconds.
Scissor switches
Stand with your right foot forward and left foot back. Keeping your torso upright, lower yourself into a lunge until your left knee is bent and your right thigh is parallel to the ground. Jump up and scissor your legs mid-air to land down with soft knees in a lunge with your left foot forward and your right leg back. Continue alternating for 40 seconds.
Power kicks
Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Bring your fists up just below your chin. Now, open up the chest and pull the shoulders down the back. Alternate waist-high front kicks, springing softly from foot to foot so you’re never on more than one foot at a time. Continue alternating for 40 seconds.
Bird-dog push-ups
Start in a push-up position with your hands directly below your shoulders to begin with.
Perform a push-up. At the top of the motion, extend your right arm and left leg to form a straight line from fingertip to heel. Return them both. Perform another push-up and repeat the arm and leg movement on the opposite side. Continue alternating for 40 seconds.