Lacking creativity, but still want a solid workout? Try this festive full-body session to get your heart-rate up and blood pumping. Complete the 6 exercises below in sequence with minimal rest in between, repeat 3X. Rest for one minute between each full sequence.
KETTLEBELL DEADLIFTS - 3 SETS OF 12-15 REPS
- Start by standing tall, gripping the kettlebell loosely
- Squeeze your shoulder blades together and engage your core before softening your knees and hinging at the hips, all while maintaining a neutral spine
- Shift your bodyweight into the heels and glutes before pushing through your heels and thrusting forward with the hips to swing the kettlebell upward from your quads
- Contract your core, snap your hips and squeeze your glutes to bring the kettlebell to chest height
- Shift your weight back into your heels as you let the kettlebell descend naturally in a pendulum motion, landing slightly behind your body for one rep
DEAD BUGS - 3 SETS OF 10-12 REPS EACH SIDE
- Begin laying on your back and extend your arms straight up to the ceiling
- Lift your shoulder blades off the ground to create tension in your abs
- Bend your knees and lift your feet off the ground
- Lower your arms and left leg at the same time, while keeping the opposite leg in the start position
- Pause briefly before bringing the left leg back up to the starting position
- Repeat the movement with the opposite leg
JUMPING JACK (O'LANTERNS) - 3 SETS OF 30 REPS
- Start by standing upright with your legs together, arms at your sides
- In one fluid movement, bend your knees slightly and jump your legs outward, about shoulder-width apart
- As you jump, stretch your arms out and over your head
- Jump your legs together and move your arms back down to your sides for one rep
DUMBBELL SKULL CRUSHERS - 3 SETS OF 12-15 REPS
- Lay down on a sturdy bench holding a pair of dumbbells in line with your armpits, palms facing one another and feet flat on the floor
- Without moving your upper arms, bend your elbows and slowly lower the dumbbells towards the sides of your head
- Extend the dumbbells upward on an angle to reverse the movement and pause for a moment before returning to the starting position with palms beside your ears for one rep
DUMBBELL AXE CHOPS - 3 SETS OF 10-15 REPS EACH SIDE
- Kneel on floor with knees hip-distance apart, holding a dumbbell with both hands, arms extended
- Rotate torso to the left, bringing weight to outside of left thigh, keeping arms extended
- This is your start position
- Using your core, lift weight diagonally across body and above your right shoulder, keeping arms extended
- Slowly return to the starting position for one rep
JACK KNIFE SIT-UPS - 3 SETS OF 8-10 REPS
- Lie flat on your back and neutralize your low back (avoid a rounded or an arched spine)
- Extend your legs out long and reach your arms above your head
- Hover your arms and legs a few inches off the mat
- Take a deep breath, and on your exhale lift your head and pull your arms and legs up into a V-shape (lift roughly 30-45 degrees away from the mat)
- On your lift, keep your legs straight and your arms parallel to your thighs
- Lower back down to your starting position for one rep