The 30/30 Med Ball Cardio Blast

The 30/30 Med Ball Cardio Blast

WARM UP
Stretch and Roll Out:
Calves
Hamstrings
Quads
Groin
Hips/Glutes
Chest/Shoulders/Traps

WORKOUT

Perform 5-8 rounds of the circuit below. This is a quick workout. Do not take extra rest between rounds.

CIRCUIT:
30 seconds Med Ball Chest Pass and Shuffle
30 seconds Rest
30 seconds Alternating Rotational Throws
30 seconds Rest
30 seconds Squat and Throw
30 seconds Rest
30 seconds Rainbow Split Squat Jumps
30 seconds Rest
30 seconds Sit Up and Throw
30 seconds Rest

COOL DOWN
Stretch and Roll Out:
Calves
Hamstrings
Quads
Groin
Hips/Glutes
Chest/Shoulders/Traps

NOTES:

Work as hard as you can for the 30 seconds then rest for 30 seconds. Do not rest during the 30 seconds of work. Instead regress the move if needed. Move from one exercise to the next. Do not rest extra between rounds.

Beginners though may need to take 1-2 minutes between rounds and do only 3 or even 4 rounds instead of 5.

EXERCISE DESCRIPTIONS:

Med Ball Chest Pass and Shuffle – To do the Chest Pass and Shuffle, hold a med ball in both hands at your chest and face a wall. You want to be far enough from the wall that you have room to extend your arms and pass the ball; however, you want to be close enough to the wall that it will bounce back to you and that you can catch and pass quickly. Then throw the ball out from your chest into the wall and begin to shuffle laterally. To pass the ball press it straight out from your chest and extend your arms toward the wall. Drill the ball straight into the wall and then catch it and bring it back into your chest. Shuffle one direction as you pass and then change directions and shuffle back as you repeat the quick passes. Keep the shuffles one direction short. You don’t have to go 50 feet to one side and then back. Room for 3-4 shuffles each way is more than enough. Make sure to stand up nice and tall and keep your chest pressed out as you pass and shuffle. If you have a partner, you can do the Chest Pass and Shuffle together, passing the ball back and forth as you both shuffle the same way.

med-ball-chest-pass-and-shuffle
Alternating Rotational Throws – To do Alternating Rotational Throws, start in a very slightly staggered stance with your side to the wall. Holding the ball in both hands, reach the ball back toward the hip of the back foot. Then, throwing it underhanded, toss it straight against the wall as hard as possible. As you throw, bring your back foot forward and switch to face the other direction and catch the ball, bringing it back toward your other hip. Then throw the ball against the wall and switch back to the first side. Keep rotating and alternating back and forth. The harder you throw the ball and the quicker you move, the harder the move will be.

alternating-med-ball-rotational-throws
Squat and Throw – To do the Squat and Throw, hold a med ball in both hands at your chest and stand with your feet about hip-width to shoulder-width apart. You can stand facing a way to throw up at or you can simply throw up toward the ceiling. Then squat down with the ball at your chest. As you explode up out of the squat, press the ball from your chest throwing it as high up as you can. It is ok to explode out of the squat and jump as you throw the ball from your chest up as high as possible. Make sure that as you throw you extend your body and your arms up toward the ball. Then catch the ball either straight off the throw or after a bounce on the ground and sink right back into the squat and repeat. Do not round forward as you sink into the squat while holding the ball at your chest. This also doesn’t have to be a squat where you sink your butt all the way to the ground, but you do want to make sure to sit your butt back and down. Throw the ball as high as you can. Add weight if you can easily throw it super high or as high as your space allows!

wall ball
Rainbow Split Squat Jumps – To do Rainbow Split Squat Jumps, step one foot forward so you are in a nice wide stance. Hold the ball in both hands and bring it outside that front leg. Sink into a deep lunge, bending the back knee down toward the ground as you bend the front knee. Bring the ball outside your front hip. Then jump up and as you do switch your legs so that you land with the opposite leg in front. As you jump and switch legs, swing the ball up overhead and down outside the other hip. When you land and bring the ball outside your other hip, sink straight into a lunge on the other side. Then jump back into a lunge on the first side, swinging the ball in a rainbow overhead and down to the other hip. Move quickly and try to get up off the ground. Get as deep in the lunges as you can as well. Make sure though that you don’t start to go forward, but land and sit back in the lunge a bit. Beginners may not be able to sink as low in the lunge and may need to do more of a step back with a hop instead of a jump from lunge to lunge.

rainbow split squat jumps
Sit Up and Throw –  To do the Sit Up and Throw, sit on the ground with your legs out in front of you. Sit far enough from the wall or your partner that you won’t either bash yourself in the face, or your partner in the face, with the ball. Holding the ball in both hands, lie back on the ground and extend the ball overhead on the ground behind you. Then sit up and as you do perform an overhead throw, throwing the ball into the wall or to your partner. Do not sit up then throw. Throw as you sit up. And sit all the way up as you follow through with the throw. Then as you catch the ball, lie back down, extending the ball back overhead. Try to move quickly, catching, lying back down, and then quickly sitting back up as you throw. Beginners may need to stick with a seated overhead throw instead of including the full sit up.

med-ball-crunch

The Partner Cardio-Core Workout

The Partner Cardio-Core Workout

WARM UP
Stretch and Roll Out:
Calves
Hamstrings
Quads
Groin
Hips/Glutes
Chest/Shoulders/Traps

WORKOUT

Perform 3-5 rounds of each of the circuits below. Perform the circuits in a you go, I go style with one partner completing all the moves back to back and then resting while the other partner goes. Rest 2-3 minutes between circuits.

CIRCUIT #1:
20 second Resisted Sprint
20 second Partner Reaction Lunges
20 second Partner Wall Pushes

CIRCUIT #2:
20 second Resisted Sprint
20 second Partner Drag
20 second Partner Leg Throws

COOL DOWN
Stretch and Roll Out:
Calves
Hamstrings
Quads
Groin
Hips/Glutes
Chest/Shoulders/Traps

NOTES:

By doing you go, I go, you can rest while your partner works. Make sure though that you work as hard as possible during the 20 seconds and move quickly from one exercise to another.

Do not rest between exercises.

EXERCISE DESCRIPTIONS:

For a video of all of these moves, click here.

Resisted Sprint – To do Resisted Sprints, wrap a band or towel around one partner’s hips or use a harness. The other partner will stand behind the partner sprinting, holding the ends of the band, towel or harness. The front partner will then begin to sprint. They will lean forward into the band and sprint, driving their knees up as they swing their arms from “cheek to cheek.” As they sprint against the band, their partner will pull back and slowly follow them. This isn’t about sprinting forward quickly, but about lots of quick knee drives as your partner allows you to slowly move forward. Move as quickly as you can using your arms and the rotation of your core as you quickly drive your knees. Do not round or hunch forward as you sprint. Also, do not start chopping vegetables with your arms. Drive your elbows back and swing your arms from about your cheek to your hip. Partners should also allow their partner to sprint forward slowly. Do not hold them in place or allow them to move forward too quickly. Beginners may need to slow down the knee drives and do more of a march.
Partner Reaction Lunges – To do the Partner Reaction Lunge, one partner will stand behind the other. The partner in back will “push” the front partner forward so that they have to react and catch themselves in a lunge. If you are the back partner, start by pushing your partner forward on their upper back. Push them hard enough that they have to step forward into a lunge and react, but not so hard they lose their balance. If you are the front partner, when you are pushed, step forward and sink into a lunge to decelerate and catch yourself from the push. Then drive back to standing, pushing off that front heel. Make sure to keep your chest up and core tight as you lunge. Also make sure you don’t go forward onto the ball of your foot or your toes. You want to land with your foot flat on the ground as you sink into the lunges. Push back up to standing and then have your partner push you again. This time lunge with the other leg to catch yourself. The “pushes” should be hard enough that the partner is challenged to react and catch themselves without being so hard that they completely lose their balance. The partner being pushed must also make sure to wait for the push. Do not lunge before your partner pushes you. The harder the push, the harder the move will be.

partner-lunges
Partner Wall Pushes – To do the Partner Wall Push, one partner will stand facing the wall. They will set up fairly close to the wall with their feet in a staggered stance and their hands against the wall. They will then press into the wall as if trying to drive the wall back. Their arms should be bent as if they are pressing at the bottom of a push up and they should get close to the wall with their feet staggered back to help them push in. As they hold and drive hard into the wall, their partner will “push and pull” them to force them to stabilize and keep pressing into the wall. By pushing and pulling your partner, you are making sure they are driving into the wall as hard as they can and not simply leaning into the wall. If you are pushing into the wall, do not let your partner move you as they push and pull you. You want to engage your core and drive hard into the wall to help you stay still and balanced. If you are pushing and pulling your partner as they hold, make sure to put enough behind your pushes to force them to have to work, but don’t push them so hard that they keep losing their balance.

partner-core-exercise
Partner Drag – To do Partner Drags, one partner will stand in front of the other with their back to their partner. The partner in front will step onto sliders, Valslides or towels. They can then cross their hands over their chest as their partner behind them reaches around to hold them under their arms. The front partner will then lean back into their partner as the back partner begins to walk/run backward. Both partners should brace their abs as they move and the back partner needs to make sure they don’t round forward as they drag their partner. Run/walk backward as quickly as possible dragging your partner.

partner-cardio-exercise
Partner Leg Throws – To do Partner Leg Throws, one partner will lie on their back on the ground with their partner standing right behind their head. The partner on the ground will reach back and grab the standing partner’s ankles. The partner on the ground will then lift their legs up and back toward their partner behind them. Keep your legs straight and close together. The standing partner will then grab their feet and “throw” their partner’s legs toward the ground. They can throw them straight ahead or angled to one side or the other. Mix it up and make them react to the throw. Throw your partner’s legs hard enough that they have to fight to keep their heels up off the ground, but not so hard that they can’t control their legs and go crashing down. When your legs are throw, engage your abs and decelerate the throw right before your heels touch the ground. Then use your abs to raise your legs back up to your partner. Do not let your legs bend and make sure to keep your legs close together as your legs get thrown. Do not let your low back engage as you fight to keep your heels up off the ground or when you raise your legs back up. Remember, this is an advanced move. Beginners may even want to start with a variation of the Pelvic Tilt Progression before attempting this partner move.

partner-ab-exercise

The Leg Isometric Workout

The Leg Isometric Workout

WARM UP
Stretch and Roll Out:
Feet
Shins
Calves
IT Bands
Hips/Glutes
Groin
Quads
Hamstrings 

WORKOUT

Complete 3-5 rounds of each of the circuits below. Perform each move back to back, only resting as needed between rounds and circuits.

CIRCUIT #1:
20-45 seconds each side Warrior III
20-45 seconds each side Standing Splits
20-45 seconds each side Half Moon
20-45 seconds each side Twisting Half Moon
Up to 45 seconds rest. Include a few static stretches for hips, glutes, hamstrings and calves as needed.

CIRCUIT #2:
20-45 seconds each side Crescent
20-45 seconds each side Scissor Hamstring Stretch
20-45 seconds each side Warrior II
20-45 seconds each side Extended Triangle
Up to 45 seconds rest. Include a few static stretches for hips, glutes, hamstrings and calves as needed.

COOL DOWN
Stretch and Roll Out:
Feet
Shins
Calves
IT Bands
Hips/Glutes
Groin
Quads
Hamstrings 

NOTES:

You can do this workout one of two ways – More advanced exercisers will want to go through the entire circuit on one side then switch sides.

Beginners may want to give each side a rest after each exercise so may alternate legs on each move.

Some good stretches for during the rest periods can be found here.

Try to lengthen the time you hold each as you become stronger and can hold with good form. However, since you want to move quickly from one move to the next, do not hold so long that you have to rest between moves.

EXERCISE DESCRIPTIONS:

For all the Isometrics in this workout, click here. You can also add some variety and use this basic routine while subbing in some of the other moves!

yoga poses for glutes and balance

For instance, especially if the outside of your hips and glutes are tight, you may want to do Twisting Extended Triangle instead.

You can also sub in Warrior I instead of II to hit your hips from a different angle. Mix it up and choose isometrics that target your tightest areas even!

The 15-Minute Sweat Sesh

The 15-Minute Sweat Sesh

WARM UP
Stretch and Roll Out:
Calves
Hamstrings
Quads
Groin
Hips/Glutes
Chest/Shoulders/Traps
Back/Lats

WORKOUT

Take a minute or two to stretch out. If you need a really quick full-body stretch, try the World’s Greatest Stretch.

Then set a timer for 15 minutes and complete as many rounds of the circuit below as possible in that time. Only rest as needed. Record how many rounds you complete and try to beat that next time!

CIRCUIT:
5-10 reps Bull Dog Burpees
5-10 reps per side Spiderman Push Ups
5-10 reps per side Side Lunges with Hop
3-5 reps per side Sit Thrus

COOL DOWN
Stretch and Roll Out:
Calves
Hamstrings
Quads
Groin
Hips/Glutes
Chest/Shoulders/Traps
Back/Lats

NOTES:

When choosing a rep range, choose to do as many reps as you can without resting or without going to failure so that you can’t move quickly from one exercise to another. It is better to do 5 reps and move quickly then to do 10 reps and have to pause between reps or rest after the exercise.

The quicker you move while challenging yourself, the more you will get out of this workout.

EXERCISE DESCRIPTIONS:

Bull Dog Burpees – To do the Bull Dog Burpee, start standing with your feet together. Then squat down and place your hands down on the ground. With your hands down, jump your feet back into the Bull Dog position. Jump your feet back so your knees are an inch off the ground and about under your hips while your hands are about under your shoulders. Then jump your feet back in and outside your hands. Lift your hands and jump up as high as you can before squatting back down and placing your hands back on the ground to jump back into the Bull Dog position.

bull-frog-burpees
Spiderman Push Ups – The first Spiderman Push Up Variation is easier because you will include the knee drive at the top of the Push Up. To do this variation, set up in a nice plank position with your feet together and your hands outside your chest. Perform a Push Up, lowering your chest to the ground with your body moving as one unit. Do not let your elbows flare way up by your shoulders as you lower. Then push back up to the top and straighten your arms fully. Make sure your butt doesn’t go up in the air or your hips don’t sag. In this plank position, drive your right knee in toward the outside of your right elbow. Then put the foot back down so you’re in the nice plank position again. Perform another Push Up then drive the left knee in to the left elbow. Keep alternating knee drives after each Push Up. Beginners can do this from an incline or even do the Push Up from their knees then come up to their toes for the knee drive.

spiderman-push-up

The second Spiderman Push Up Variation is more challenging because you will include the knee drive at the bottom of the Push Up, which requires you to hold at the bottom for a little longer. To do this variation, perform a Push Up and at the bottom of the Push Up, bring your right knee in to your right elbow. As you press back up, put the foot back. Then perform another Push Up, and holding at the bottom, bring the left knee in to the left elbow. Push back up and put the foot back. Make sure to keep your core tight as you bring the knee in. Your hips may rotate a bit but your butt shouldn’t go way up in the air and your body should move as one unit as you push back up to the top. Beginners can also try this variation from an incline.

advanced-spiderman-push-up
Side Lunges with Hop – To do Side Lunges with Hop, stand tall with your feet together. Step one foot out to the side nice and wide. Bend the knee of the leg you stepped out to the side with, keeping the other leg straight. Sit your butt back and lean over as you sink into the side lunge. Keep your back flat as you sit back. Then drive back up off your outside foot to come back to standing. When you come back to standing, jump up toward the ceiling, reaching up overhead. Then lunge out to the other side before coming back center and jumping toward the ceiling. Keep alternating lunges until all reps are complete. Make sure your heels stay down as you lunge out to the side. You want to make sure to sit your butt back.

side lunges with hop
Sit Thrus – 
To do the Sit Thru, start on your hands and knees with your hands under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. Flex your feet and press up onto your hands and toes. Rotate open toward the right and kick your left leg under and through toward where your right hand is. As you bring your left leg forward and through, lift your right hand. You want to rotate all the way through with your left leg out straight so that you are almost sitting with your left hand down to support you. You want to “sit through.” Then bring the left leg back through so you are back in the starting position. Next rotate to the left and kick your right leg through and forward as you lift your left hand. Move as quickly as you can back and forth. Beginners may need to move slowly or even start in a more spread out position with their legs out straight instead of their knees under their hips.

sit-thrus

The Build A Stronger Back Workout

The Build A Stronger Back Workout

WARM UP
Stretch and Roll Out:
Wrists/Forearms
Chest
Shoulders
Traps
Upper Back

ACTIVATION

Complete 2 rounds of the circuit below.

CIRCUIT:
10 reps Scapular Retraction Mini Pull Ups
10 reps Inverted Rows

WORKOUT

Complete the first exercise then rest 1-2 minutes and do the supplemental circuit. Rest 30-90 seconds between rounds of the circuit. Complete 3-5 rounds.

EXERCISE:
50 reps Pull Ups

Do the 50 Pull Ups in as few a rounds as possible. That means resting long enough between rounds that you can do a lot in a row without resting too long (rest 30-90 seconds…90 seconds max). If you can do all 50 without releasing the bar, do it! You may do assisted variations as well, but make them challenging enough that you can’t do all 50 in a row.

CIRCUIT:
8-12 reps per side Single Arm Anti-Rotational Row
10-15 reps Suspension Trainer Back Flyes
10-15 reps Hanging Knee Tuck to Twist

NOTES:

Record how many rounds and the reps you get each round for the 50 Pull Ups. Try to beat it next time by either doing fewer rounds, more reps in a few rounds or even resting shorter between rounds.

EXERCISE DESCRIPTIONS:

Scapular Retraction Mini Pull Ups – To do this move, hang from a bar with your palms facing away from you. Your hands should be about shoulder-width apart although you can do it with them wider apart or closer together. From this hanging position, press your chest out and pull your shoulder blades down and together. Don’t bend your elbows and start to pull up. Just press your chest out and retract your shoulder blades bringing them down and together. You should feel your shoulders go down as your chest lifts up.Then relax out and repeat. Remember, you are not bending your elbows to make this movement bigger.
Inverted Rows – To do the Inverted Row, hold a suspension trainer strap in each hand or use a bar. Walk your feet out so that you are leaning back. The closer to parallel to the ground you get, the harder the move will be. Squeeze your core and glutes and press your chest out so there is tension between your shoulder blades. Make sure you don’t shrug your shoulders and that your body is in a nice straight line. Then row up, keeping your body in that nice straight line. Row until your chest comes up to the handles and then lower yourself back down. Don’t let your hips sink as you lower back down or your low back arch. Also, keep your chest pressed out the entire time (make sure you don’t round your thoracic spine at the bottom). Move in a controlled fashion as you keep tension between your shoulder blades the entire time. Make sure you row low and don’t shrug your shoulders at any point. Do not bounce off the bottom of your row or use momentum to get back up.

inverted-row
Pull Ups – To do a Pull Up, start hanging from the bar with your palms facing away from you. Hanging with your arms straight off the bar, press your chest out and up and feel your shoulder blades draw down and together. Leading with your chest, pull yourself up to the bar. Ideally you want to bring your chest all the way up to the bar as you draw your shoulder blades down and back. Then slowly lower yourself down until your arms are fully extended.Your arms should fully extend at the bottom but you do not want to relax the tension in your back. Make sure to lead with your chest and do not let your shoulders shrug. Do not bounce or swing at the bottom. You do not want to use momentum to pull back up. Only on the last couple of reps should you ever swing at all or kick your legs. You want clean reps, but to eek out an extra rep or so and go past failure, you can use a little momentum.

pull-up
Single Arm Anti-Rotational Row – To do the Single Arm Anti-Rotational Row, place one hand across your chest and grab the strap in the other hand. Set up in a nice straight line, squeezing your quads, glutes and core. Do not let your body rotate. You want to move in a straight line as you row up and down. Pull you arm in toward your chest. Do not shrug your shoulder as you row. Drive the elbow back and pull your hand in toward the bottom of your pec. You should move as if both arms are pulling instead of letting the side not rowing rotate open toward the ground. To advance (or regress this move), change the incline of your body. The closer you get to parallel to the ground, the harder the move gets.

anti-rotational-inverted-row
Suspension Trainer Back Flyes – Hold a strap in each hand, facing the anchor point of the trainer. Walk your feet forward toward the anchor point. You will not want to walk them in as far as you do with the Inverted Row. Keeping your body in a nice straight line from your head to your heels, open your arms out to the side. You may open them slightly out and down to make sure you don’t shrug your shoulders. Keep your elbows soft, but do not bend your arms as you open to the side. Do not turn this into a row. Pull yourself up so your arms are even with your body and then lower back down, bringing your hands back together. Keep your body in a nice straight line as you row. Do not arch your back to help yourself get all the way up. If you can’t fly your arms all the way open, walk your feet back so you are more vertical instead of horizontal. Do not let your hips sag or arch as you perform the fly. Squeeze your glutes and keep your abs engaged. Make sure you don’t shrug your shoulders as you open. Keep your chest pressed out as you perform the fly. Move slowly and don’t bounce off the bottom. Focus on squeezing your shoulder blades down and together as you perform the Back Fly.

back flyes
Hanging Knee Tuck to Twist – To do the Hanging Knee Tuck to Twist, start hanging then tuck your knees up toward your chest. With your knees up by your chest, twist them to the right. Then lower back down. Raise them back up center, then drop/twist your knees to the left. Lower back down and repeat on the right side. You can also vary this move up by bringing your knees up center then twisting right, center, left, center then lowering back down. However, it will be more challenging to keep your knees tucked the entire time.

Hanging Knee Tuck and Twist