Name: Playbook - Niki SugarySixpack - Quick upper body circuit (16 mins work + warm up, cool down)
Uploaded: 2024-03-28T18:05:10.205Z
Duration: 25 min
Description: Quick upper body circuit (16 mins work + warm up, cool down)

Need:
1 large dumbbell
Or two smaller ones (if using 2 smaller ones make sure you are actively pressing them together when doing the exercises)

This is quick and this is as non stop as possible! (We go 16 mins straight for the actual workout)

Great for when you’re short on time but still want to get a nice little upper body workout in. 

You’ll target biceps, shoulders & back here.

Move with intention and keep that core working with your breath😁

Enjoy!

Go through each exercise continuously only resting quickly if needed.

-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

-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
-Deep core engaged through movement to stabilize
-Move with control
-Repeat reps on both sides

Plank reach right

Plank reach left

-Engage deep core and use lower abs to lift knees off the ground
-Keep hips ribs and head stacked for good alignment
-Keep a light length through your torso
-See core breathing/ core hold tutorials

Quadruped lift off

-Targeting the serratus anterior muscle
-This is a small range of motion
-If you are struggling to isolate the movement, think shoulder blades pulling straight together across your back and sliding down to your armpits as you press up
-This is not a thoracic mobility exercise, upper back should stay pretty netural
-Use whatever core technique feels best for you - gentle core hold or core breath along with movement can work
-Elbows aren't moving along with the exercise like a traditional push up
-Be mindful of tension in neck

Scapular push up

-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
-Elbows under shoulders
-Very slight anterior pelvic tilt (tucked). Imagine ribs and hips are lightly connected by a string
-Move feet side, middle, side as quickly as you feel comfortable keeping good form
-Raise arms up on a chair/step/bench to modify

Quadruped triple tap.

-Intensify by moving off knees into regular push up position during push up portion
-Core works with breath through the movement. Exhale and engage on exertion. Core should be engaged when stretched out in ‘plank’ position
-core should help lift/hold torso off of the ground when pressing back

Pressback

-Twist open through the upper mid back, in the thoracic spine - not low back
-Exhale lightly connect to core, move
-Flow through with intention - don't push range of motion or speed through movement
-Be mindful of just trying to reach with arm and not twisting
-Hold reach through for just a second or two, we're flowing through here
-Keep in mind optimal alignment of torso(hips, ribs and head stacked in line)
-Can sit on something lower if feels better
-If you have a severed diastasis, be extra mindful of how this is affecting your core!

Thoracic windmills

-Hinge at hips to bend. Can adjust depth as needed for comfort
-Lats engage before moving arms
-Core works with breath through movement (see core hold/core breathing tutorial)

Raise & rotate

-Rotate palms up as arms open back to feel a chest stretch
-Move with control

Hug yourself

Warm up

-Be sure hips, ribs and head stay stacked in good alignment so ribs don’t flare whenweight is overhead
-Think pelvis and ribs lightly connected by a string
-Press dumbbells together if using 2
-Controlled lowering and extension of weight
-Deep core works with your breath throughout the movement. Exhale engage (see core breathing)

Close press.

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

Close row.

-Slow and controlled lower
-Length through the torso with hips, ribs and head stacked
-Core works along with breath throughout movement (see core breathing tutorial). Exhale, connect, curl 
-Be sure your body isn’t helping the curl by using hips to push weight 
-Can use 2 lighter weights actively pressed together or 1 heavier weight

Close curl.

-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.

Upper body circuit

-Can hold either arm position to feel stretch longer
-Weight is seated back on legs/heels
-Keep length and intention through stretch, don’t allow chest and belly to dump towards the floor

Lat stretch

-Reaching over head to feel stretch along side body
-Keep length through torso
-Gently rotate slightly open towards your back, this is a very small range of motion
-The goal is a gentle stretch, not discomfort

Rotating side stretch right

Rotating side stretch left

-Keep shoulders back and pull arm across body
-Torso isn’t twisting for added range of motion

Shoulder stretch right

Shoulder stretch left

-This is a small range of motion in the twist open
-Should be felt in the thoracic spine - not low back or neck
-Ball between legs to help prevent twisting through lumbar: exhale connect to core, squeeze ball with knees and move
-Flow through with intention - don't push range of motion or speed through movement
-Hold reach for just a second or two, we're flowing through here
-Keep in mind optimal alignment of torso(hips, ribs and head stacked in line)

Thread the needle reach flow right

Thread the needle reach flow left

-Make sure rotation is coming from the thoracic spine (upper/mid back) not the low back
-Engage core and squeeze inner thighs before rotation
-See seated thoracic rotation in core work tutorials section

Seated thoracic rotation

Cool down

Quick upper body circuit (16 mins work + warm up, cool down)

It only looks easy… 2nd round was a kill 😊🏋️‍♀️

Joanna

Kasey

Chloe

Triceps & Core

Samantha

Mallory

I need help with the tricep press. I’m not even sure how to do this without hurting your wrists!

Missy

Upper body mix

Christina

Loved it! Even when I fall off the wagon for a bit your workouts makes me feel good and want to get back on a regular schedule!

Hannah

Loved trying out the new weights I got for Christmas! This workout was perfect for it!

Dumbbell upper body

25 minute upper body follow along (dumbbells)

I love the follow along! Finished after a long shift at work on my feet. Always feel better after and never regret it

Alexandra

Loved this one! Great way to get both upper body and cardio in.

Natalie

Great workout! My only issue was you called the single arm db snatches cleans 😝

Rachel

24 Min Upper Body & Cardio follow along

Upper body mini circuits

Really enjoyed this upper body! Lots of fun!

Julianne

It was awesome. I had to modify the last two exercises because my core is a bit weak still. Had a busy day so glad I still did a workout.

Carmen

I was ultra short on time today and almost decided to skip my work out but instead did this whole workout only twice through rather than the three times stated. Still got sweaty and a great burn - glad I got it in. Now I gotta go!

22 min upper: triceps, biceps + some shoulders (dumbbells)

Hanna

Loved this one & the motivational talk at the end!!! Thanks for great workouts & a positive mentality.

Amber

22 min upper: triceps, biceps + some shoulders follow along

Upper body + core circuits

This was great, I was able to squeeze it in when I didn’t have much time.

19 min Upper body strong (dumbbells)

Liked it so much I finished the round I was in even after the 20 minutes was up🔥

20 min upper body AMRAP circuit

Upper body sculpt pairs (dumbbells)

Shoulders + biceps burner

Love how it targeted. My upper back / posture appreciates this💪✨

Back, chest & shoulders

Raeanne

Omg. This is the worst and the best all at the same time. 😅

Upper body + sneaky core

Norma

Upper body sculpt

My arms are jello! 😂 Wow this really targeted all the areas it said it would. Loved it!

Biceps, triceps + chest + warm up

I underestimated that chair tricep exercise. I shouldn’t have! My arms are on fire 😅🔥

Upper body (back, biceps + triceps)

Absolutely loved this workout! 💪🏼🔥

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Great! I’m sooo much stronger than I was 9 months ago when I really started doing your workouts  regularly. I can feel it when I’m lifting groceries, etc. Thank you for functional fitness!!

Oh my gosh! The core work in this had my core feeling like it was on fire. Absolutely fantastic upper body workout! 💪🏼

Loved this one. Love combining upper body with core.

Upper body + core

My arms are screaming! The l curls got me good 😂 I’ll do this workout again! So good!

Pamela

Collins Stone

Upper body AMRAP

Chest, back and shoulders

All over upper body

What a challenging combination of exercises! An amazing upper body workout!

Upper body tri sets (chest, triceps, shoulder)

I think there may be a few left sides left out in the first circuit!

Upper body mini circuits (back, biceps + shoulders)

Loved this! The burnout killed my shoulders 👍👍

Upper body circuits (shoulders, chest, tri)

This was a super fun and quick workout while being very effective!

Great workout! Took me exactly 31 minutes to complete.

Upper body (chest, back, shoulders)

This was quick but so much fun! Hit a lot of places in my upper body and core that felt so good!

Courtney

Upper body (core, biceps, triceps + shoulders)

3 rounds done in 24 minutes! This was such a great upper body burner!

Quick upper body circuit (16 mins work + warm up, cool down)

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