Name: Playbook - Niki SugarySixpack - Upper body + core circuits
Uploaded: 2024-03-28T18:05:10.216Z
Duration: 30 min
Description: Upper body + core circuits

Need:
Dumbbells
Mat

Move with intention! Good form helps the exercise work the intended muscles.

We do some core work here! Be sure you connect to the core properly and intentionally. It should be working!

Take rest time after all rounds of a circuit is complete.

Tips on each exercise.

-Hips, ribs and head are stacked with a light length through the body
-Press backwards raising up into a pike position
-Pull forward using the core
-Core works with breath through the movement
-Very slight anterior pelvic tilt (tucked). Imagine ribs and hips are lightly connected by a string

Dolphin plank

-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

Side plank right

Side plank left

-Press up from the floor, engage chest as you press hands into the floor
-Core should be engaged as you press up off of the floor and lower down. See core hold tutorial in core function section
-Core works with breath through movement. Exhale and engage on exertion
-Intensify by pressing up into full plank rather than on knees

Press up on knees

-Pull forward from down dog, shifting weight into the hands and slightly rounding the upper back
-Move slowly with intention
-Core works with breath through the movement. Exhale, connect and pull forward

Pike weight shift

-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

-Press through hands to lift forearms off the floor, recruit triceps
-Drive knee towards chest with control using core for stabilizing and balance 
-Hips, ribs and head stacked for good alignment. Chin tucked
-Modify by bringing legs closer to arms. The further out the legs the harder it is
-Core works with breath through movement, engaging with exhale before moving (see core breathing tutorial)

Tricep dip + knee drives

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

Hug yourself

-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

warm up

Work continuously until time is up. Rest up to 45 seconds before moving on to next circuit.

-Each curl is a rep
-Slow and controlled lower
-Body/hips should not help get the weights up
-Length through the torso with hips, ribs and head stacked
-Core works along with breath throughout movement (see core breathing tutorial)

Side curl + rotate

-Move with control. Be especially mindful not to 'fling' the weights to punch
-Choose a weight you can control!
-Only as quickly as you can keep good form - hips, ribs and head stay stacked to prevent rib flare or low back arch
-Core works with breath throughout movement. Exhale, connect, move on ‘hard’ parts of exercise (see core breathing)

Cross up punch

-Engage deep core before lifting legs off ground
-See core hold tutorial
-Core should drive movement of legs
-Slow and controlled
-Core connection should keep torso stable, no over arching of low back

Extend + raise with weight hold

Upper 1

-Raise arms to shoulder height
-Slow and controlled lower
-Arm should be doing the work. Hips and torso should not be used for momentum
-Core works with breath through movement (see core breathing tutorial)

Front raise

-core stays engaged through movement. See core hold tutorial in core function section 
-hips ribs and head stay stacked in line. Don’t want hips sagging or popping way up
-Elbows go back in a wide V, not straight out to the side 
-lower with control
-use chest to press back up

Push up (incline or regular)

-Deep core engages before leaning back (see core hold tutorial in core function section) 
-Core stays connected through the movement to stabilize and support as you curl
-Modify by leaning slightly against something for some added support
-Curl will not be a full extension, that’s ok! It’s more of a 3/4 curl
-Core still works with breath through the movement while connected. Exhale and ‘deepen/reaffirm the connection with exertion -Feet down and/or shoulder gently resting on something to modify for core! Please modify if needed. Better to modify and do it well than struggle with form/core connection

Boat curl

Upper 2

-Core works to stabilize torso and prevent wobbling in the movement (see core hold tutorial)
-Core works to help hold leg up during pause
-Only move as quickly as you can keep control
-Shoulders over wrists
-Keep a light length through the body and hips, ribs and head stacked in line

Pause climbers

-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

-Every 'crunch' is a rep
-Core is engaged throughout the exercise (see core hold tutorial)
-Hips, ribs + head are in line. Hips shouldn’t sag or be way up towards the ceiling
-Keep light length through the body + chin stays tucked
-Stay in optimal position as you crunch elbow and knee together each way 
-Core should stabilize you here
-Only go as far as your range of motion allows you to keep great position!

2 way side plank crunch right

2 way side plank crunch left

Upper 3

Go through each exercise continuously only resting quickly if needed.

-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

-Core is lightly engaged to add balance and support/keep proper alignment
-Bend or straighten arms to find optimal stretch for you
-This can also be done on something more stable like a thick rolled towel. Anything your arms will hang off of will work
-Keep breathing through the stretch

Chest stretch on foam roller

-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

Upper body + core circuits

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

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

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🔥

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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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Upper body circuit

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Upper body cardio sculpt

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!

Upper body + core circuits

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