If the thought of swimsuit season makes you curl up in fetal position, it’s time to start thinking about summer as a motivator, not as a punishment for months of winter weight gain. That’s right—it’s time to ditch the cover-up. Rather than hiding your body with an extra layer of fabric (you slathered on the SPF 50 right?), prepare to show off your ultimate beach body.
Find your center in the sand—this yoga workout was created for the beach
This workout, created by certified personal trainer Taj Harris, is based on her high-energy Beach Body classes at Crunch Fitness in New York City. Each exercise focuses on a different swimsuit trouble zone—like love handles, saggy buns, and poochy tummies—and together make up a total-body blast that will get you ready to break into a scantily clad Baywatch sprint in a matter of weeks. Complete the workout below no more than 3 times a week with 1 day of rest in between.
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1. Biceps Hammer Biceps Curl with Twist and Drop Set
Stand with feet hip-width apart, arms hanging at your sides. Hold a 5- to 10-pound dumbbell in each hand, palms facing in. Slowly curl arms toward your shoulders. When you’re halfway through, twist wrists so palms face up, and continue the curl. Reverse the movement to start position by twisting wrists so palms face in, then lower the weight. Do 16 reps. Immediately grab a lighter weight and perform the exercise quicker for a 30-second count. Repeat the series 3 times.
SEARCH: Running on the beach
2. Triceps Body Bar Push Back
Hold a 9- to 12-pound body bar at arm’s length behind your back, palms facing away. Press the bar back and up as high as you can, then hold or pulse the bar for 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times.
“This move is great because it not only targets your triceps, but it also hits the rear deltoid muscle and erector spinae, a group of muscles in your back,” says Harris.
