There are eight principles of an ideal training session. This workout hits all of them.
Just as there is a specific progression of chords in every great pop song, and balance of tastes in the perfect recipe, there are elements to a superior training session—components which, when combined, constitute as close to the ideal workout as possible.
These 8 principles, as outlined by Geralyn Coopersmith, exercise physiologist and Equinox Health Advisory Board member, and Lisa Wheeler, Senior National Creative Manager for Group Fitness at Equinox in New York City, can be considered the touchstones of proper training. And when put into practice, the result is a time-efficient, total-body power workout.
"It's part of our philosophy in both personal training and group fitness to train for movement mastery," says Wheeler, who designed the series in the slideshow below. "Most of our clients are looking for weight management, performance enhancement and functional training, as well as time-efficient training, and this workout does just that."
Perform the indicated reps of each exercise, demonstrated by Miami-based group fitness instructor Angel Alicea, and then repeat the circuit 2 to 3 times depending on your fitness level. Says Wheeler: "Though there's no one perfect workout, this series is pretty darn close, as it is multi-joint and works in every plane."
And before you get started, here, the elements of a perfect workout:
1. Take Care of Your Tissues. Start your workout with foam rolling, yoga balls and massage sticks to release trigger points, improve tissue quality and maximize blood flow.
2. Warm-Up Well. Dynamic warm-ups (versus static stretching and/or cardio-only warm-ups) such as toe walks, heel walks, inchworms, and butt kicks better prepare the body for a workout by raising core body temperature, lubricating joints and preparing the central nervous system for the exercise ahead.
3. Turn On Your Core. Doing movements such as planks, quadrupeds and bridges early in your workout (after the warm-up) can help activate your core, which insures good posture and helps protect your back during the workout.
4. Choose Multi-Joint Movements. Incorporate upper and lower body exercises that work more than one joint (for example, dumbbell rows work shoulders as well as elbows while bicep curls work elbows only). Not only are these exercises more time efficient, they are also more functional because the body rarely moves only one joint at a time.
5. Move in Every Plane. This targets muscles from every possible angle, creating synergy within the body so you don’t develop imbalances that can lead to injury.
6. Pull More Than Push. Most of us need more stretch in the front of our bodies and more strengthening in the back. Doing a 2:1 ratio of pull to push can help improve posture, reduce injuries (particularly to the shoulders), and create a more balanced body.
7. Hit Heavy, Medium and Light. Designate one day for heavier exercises with fewer reps (8 or less), one for moderate weight exercises for mid-range reps (8 to 12), and one for lightweight exercises with higher reps (12 to 20). Rotating the “rep ranges” helps train different muscles and maximizes overall muscular fitness.
8. Stretch Your Limits. Take time at the end of your workout when muscles are warm and receptive to do some static (slow and sustained) stretches. This will help restore muscles to their optimal length and reduce tension.
Holding a 6- to 20-kg ViPR at chest level, step your left leg across your body to the right, pivoting all the way to the side into a lunge and tap the bottom of the cylinder on the floor, keeping the ViPR on the right side of your body (as shown). As you return to standing front, raise the ViPR above your head. Repeat the lunge with the right leg, stepping across to the left, bringing the ViPR down to tap the floor on the left side of your body. That is one rep; do 8 to 12 reps.
Holding a 10- to 20-pound SandBell, squat low. Explode up from the heels and lift the SandBell overhead, arms and hips extended, coming up onto your toes (as shown). From this position, forcibly slam the SandBell down onto the ground between your feet, returning to the squat position. Pick up the SandBell and repeat with speed for 30 seconds.
Lie prone on the floor, toes tucked under, arms extended slightly wider than shoulder-width, a gliding disc beneath each hand (as shown). In one fluid motion, pull the discs towards your shoulders as you push your body up, keeping your core engaged. Slowly bend your elbows and lower your body to the floor as you extend your arms back to the starting position; do 8 to 12 reps.
Lie supine, arms at sides, legs extended, a gliding disc beneath each heel. In one driving motion, press hips up into a bridge as you draw your heels towards your glutes (as shown). Press heels down to extend legs and slowly return to start. Do 8 to 12 reps.
In a wide stance, squat low, keeping a flat back, and pick a 4- to 12-kg kettlebell off of the floor with one hand (as shown). In a fluid motion, row the kettlebell to your torso, keeping your elbow close to your body, and gently catch the kettlebell with the opposite hand at the top. Lower and repeat with the opposite arm for one rep. Do 8 to 12 reps.
Get into standard plank position, hands directly beneath shoulders, and lift your right foot off of floor, keeping leg extended. Rotate hips to the left, lifting your left arm off of the floor and extending to the ceiling, and kicking right leg through to the side (as shown). Return to start. Repeat on opposite side for one rep; do 8 to 12 reps.