Name: Playbook - Niki SugarySixpack - Lean + strong upper body W8/D1
Uploaded: 2024-03-28T18:05:10.342Z
Duration: 40 min
Description: Lean + strong upper body W8/D1

So effective and quick but challenging—LOVE!

Ally

Need:
Mat
Weights

Rest directions in each circuit.

Form tips on each exercise.

Estimated time may differ slightly for each person!

-Upper/mid back muscles are working here
- Should not cause pain in low back. if it does lower the range of motion and focus on recruiting the upper/mid back.
-doesn’t need to be a massive range of motion. Recruiting the proper muscles at a lower range is better than strain with more range
-when pulling back imagine you’re pulling a band or cable. Really pull wit the lats
-Connect to the core before moving/lifting each rep
-Glutes help some as a stabilizer

Superman pull back

-can be done sitting/standing as long as you keep good alignment and length through the torso
-stay upright, movement is coming from the shoulder joint
-we’re not crunching forward as elbows come together or arching the low back as we open the elbows to the side
-depending on how tight you are you’ll feel a stretch in the upper/mod back and possibly the chest here
-Move with control

Elbow taps

-Hips, ribs and head are stacked with a light length through the body
-Core stays connected through the movement, still breathing! See core hold tutorial in core function playlist
-Slow and controlled movement of knee to elbow
-Avoid hips sagging towards the ground or popping up to the sky
-Hands under shoulders
-Very slight anterior pelvic tilt (tucked). Imagine ribs and hips are lightly connected by a string

Knee to elbow plank

-can be done seated or standing
-slowly and with intention slide arms up the wall
-breath works along with the movement
-only go to range of motion, don’t push into discomfort

Arm wall slides

-Core engages starting right before lifting off floor
-Lift up should be driven by deep core engagement
-Keep light length through torso and hips and head stacked in line
-Move slowly with control
-Core stay connected to stabilize and prevent excessive wiggle in movement
-For more detail see quadruped plank lift tutorial in core work tutorials section

Lateral quadruped walk

-Keep hips lifted and picture a line from knees to head with hips, ribs and head in line
-Keep length through the body
-Avoid hips, ribs or waist sinking towards the floor
-Hips stay stacked vertically
-Deep core engaged through movement to stabilize

Side plank reach right

Side plank reach left

-Hips, ribs and head are stacked with a light length through the body
-Core stays connected through the movement, still breathing! See core hold tutorial in core function playlist
-Slow and controlled movement
-Avoid hips sagging towards the ground or popping up to the sky
-Hands under shoulders
-Very slight anterior pelvic tilt (tucked). Imagine ribs and hips are lightly connected by a string

Sphinx plank

-Exhale, connect to core and rotate from the hip
-Think of a line from your pivoting foot to hip to opposite shoulder
-Core works with breath through the movement
-Connect for the twist
-Twist should come from the thoracic spine 
-Light length through the body

Twist & pivot

-Add pillow under chest for comfort/support
-Gentle core engagement for stability as you exhale and lift an arm
-Lift can be a very small range of motion
-move with intention

Y lift in child’s pose

Upper warm up

Take the rest after all 3 rounds are completed or quickly as needed.

-Small bend in elbow. Stays the same throughout movement
-Core engages before lat pullback, working along with breath (see core breathing tutorial)
-Lats engage and shoulder blades pull together before pullback
-Hinge back with wide legs. For added stability but can press back against the wall
-Keep good alignment by stacking hips, ribs and head and keeping  light length through the torso. Chin stays tucked

Close lat pull

-core works with breath through the movement. Exhale connect, press weight. You may was to maintain a light connect in the lowering as well depending on what feels best for you.
-At start elbows come out and down from the shoulder in a wide ‘V’ not straight out from the shoulder like a ‘T’
-weight should be about in line with the chest at top, not over your face.
-can be done on bench etc as well as floor like shown
-maintain control of the weight during lowering phase

Twisting chest press

-core engages before pressing up. Modify by pressing up from knees then lifting into a full plank at the top
-elbows come out from shoulders at ~45 degrees. Not straight out to the side
-hips are hinged back during the row, lats are engaged. Pull back and up- think J motion rather than straight up 
-core works with breath through the movement. Exhale, connect and move on exertion

Press up + pop row

Circuit 1

-Can also be done of the floor if comfortable (montor feel dizziness and roll to side) on your back (and in1st trimester)
-Arms are slightly bent at the elbows and stay that way throughout
-Movement happens at the shoulder not elbows
-Recruit chest to pull arms together, meeting at the front of your body
-Arms angle slightly down from shoulders, not straight out to the side
-Glutes squeeze to hold your body up, slight anterior pelvic tilt (towards ribs)
-Core works along with breath(see core breathing tutorial)

Chest fly

-Deep core works with your breath throughout the movement! (see core breathing tutorial/core hold). Exhale, connect, move. Can also maintain a light connection throughout.
-Keep hips ribs and head stacked in good alignment and a light length through body
-Core should help prevent low back from over arching
-Core should help resist the urge to let ribs flare, core connection helps keep them down
-Move slowly and with control

Pullover

-core works with breath through the movement. Exhale connect, press weight. You may was to maintain a light connect in the lowering as well depending on what feels best for you.
-core has a to really stabilize you during the press because of the tendency to wobble or lean to one side during this single sided press. Don’t let weight pull you or cause you to shift
-At start elbow comes out and down from the shoulder in a wide ‘V’ not straight out from the shoulder like a ‘T’
-can be done on bench etc as well as floor like shown
-maintain control of the weight during lowering phase

Unilateral chest press right

-Core works to support spine and prevent dumping into low back(see core hold tutorial)
-Hinge at hips. Keep hips, ribs and head stacked
-Adjust hinge depth as needed
-Lats engaged to support weight. Think shoulder blades pulled together

Seated row(sub bent/supported bent row)

Circuit 2

-Keep majority of motion in the thoracic spine, not dumping into low back
-Exhale to arch (cat), inhale to cow
-Slow, controlled and intentional
-Don’t push range of motion to discomfort

Cat cow

-Hips, ribs and head are stacked with a light length through the body. Think a V shape
-Rotation is coming from the thoracic spine
-adjust feet as needed for range of motion
-reach for knee instead of ankle if needed
-Core works with breath through the movement. See core function section
-Slow and controlled movement
-Avoid excessively rounding or dipping back 
-Very slight anterior pelvic tilt (tucked). Imagine ribs and hips are lightly connected by a string

Down dog cross reach

-Keep light length through the stretch not sinking/dumping into it
-clasp hands and pull gently to open chest then switch hands to gently open the back
-Take range of motion to a slight stretch, not discomfort or forced range of motion
-Low back shouldn't feel compressed when opening chest

Arch + round upright

-Make sure rotation is coming from the thoracic spine (upper/mid back) not the low back
-Engage core and squeeze inner thighs before rotation
-Range of motion can be small, don’t have to reach way open
-Keep top hip from rotating open as you open the upper body
-See seated thoracic rotation in core work tutorials section

Open book right

Open book left

-Reaching laterally over head to feel stretch along side body
-Gentle stretch, don’t force range of motion
-Adjust legs to what’s comfortable
-Keep length through torso
-Gently rotate slightly open towards your back, this is a very small range of motion

Twisting side to chest stretch

cool down

Lean + strong upper body W8/D1

LEG DAY KWEEEEN! This is a great start to round 2 of Lean + Strong. Burn.

Katie

Tammie

Emma

Lean + strong lower body W7/D1

Julianne

Kelsey

Amazing 7weeks! I feel amazing 🤩 thank you so much 🙏🏻⭐️

Pamela

Lean + strong upper body W7/D2

Courtney

Lean + strong core + cardio W7/D3 (optional)

Loved this one, my whole body feels activated!

Corinne

Victoria

Solid and challenging if using heavy enough weights

Elisa

Lean + strong total body W7/D4

I love how there’s a bit of a strength challenge incorporated in this cardio workout!

Lean + strong cardio + core W7/D5

Hannah

Lean + strong lower body W7/D6

Natalie

Lean and strong lower body W8/D2

Natalie Hubbell

For the fire section I think you meant reps instead is seconds ? And for the trenching one stretch is 303sec 😉

Katekate

Lean + strong core & cardio W8/D3 (optional day)

I really enjoyed the great variety of exercises!

For some reason the app isn’t allowing me to play any of the follow along workouts 🤷‍♀️

It’s fixed!! You’re right, reps not minutes. So sorry!

Niki

Lean + strong total body W8/D4

Mujde

Lean + strong core & cardio W8/D5

Raeanne

Lean + strong total body (upper focus) W8/D6

What a riper 😅. Loved the single leg stuff, really valuable information (very different from side-to-side). Happy to have some new goals and room for improvement. Thank you ☺️ for that sweat ❤️

Lauren

Those slept squat + hops 🥵
Had to drop the weights but got it done ✔️

Lean + strong lower body W9/D1

Lean + strong upper body W9/D2

Loved how it incorporated some kickboxing moves! So much fun!

Love the burn 🔥 jajajajajaja always so fun. Thanks 🙏 🌸

Lean + strong cardio + core W9/D3

I had only 10 kg dumbbells with me and nearly died by the end of this workout but finished it! 🥹💪🏻💦

Judit

Lean & strong total body W9/D4

Fun movements made this cardio workout very enjoyable, time just flew by! 😊

Sarah

Lean + strong core & cardio W9/D5

Quads were on fire after that burnout! Such a great lower body workout!

Becca Ralls

Abbie

Thank goodness tomorrow is a rest day. This was tough!

Lean + strong lower body W9/D6

Lean + strong lower body W10/D1

Lean + strong upper body W10/D2

Did you means 45 reps of burpee jacks or 45 sec?

Lean + strong cardio & core W10/D3

Amazing sweat 😓 🥵thanks 🙏💪🏼

Hard one I struggled through the last round of burnout. Thanks for keeping me strong

Lean + strong total body W10/D4

Amazing workout! There might be a few that say reps instead of time?

Lean + strong cardio + core W10/D5

Lean + strong total body (upper focus) W10/D6

Whoa! I could only make it through 3 rounds. This was fire!

Kayla

Tough workout, it may be one round too long. I couldn’t finish unfortunately, but got close! It takes a bit over an hour to do it full out

Power week lower body W11/D1

Power week upper body W11/D2

Power week core W11/D3

Another great workout with nicely challenging compound movements! 💪🏻 Love it when unilateral exercises are included! 😊

Lean + strong upper body W8/D1

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