NYC Trainers' Top Toners

Memorial Day is a week from today. Last week I presented my tried and true Pre Beach Tips. The only exercise mention was to exit the elliptical or ratchet up your cardio. For today’s post. I contacted some friends of Foodtrainers for their advice. These exercise gurus are at the top of their field. We asked each of them for their #1 Pre-Beach move. Try doing each of these daily.

Brynn Jinnett is the owner of Refine Method in NYC. My clients rave about Brynn.  Brynn is a Harvard-educated, former NYC ballet dancer. Her clients have included Kelly Ripa, Ivanka Trump and Barbara Walters. She suggests:

Half-Kneeling Resistance Band Chop:

 Attach a medium weight resistance band to a high sturdy object, such as a door or tree. Assume a half kneeling stance with your right foot forward and left shoulder in line with the band. Grab the band with two hands and tighten your abs and gluts. Keeping your hips still, chop the band diagonally down to your right hip and then slowly release back to your starting position. Your shoulders will follow the movement of the band, but your lower back and hips will remain stable. Perform 10-12 chops and then switch to the other side.

Gigi Barlowe-Marsh is a fantastic NYC based trainer. Gigi and her chef husband John Marsh are also the founders of my favorite chocolaty snacks The Real Bar.  Gigi selected:

Squat Push Press with Medicine Ball

This squat push press with a medicine ball works the gluts, quads, hams, shoulders, triceps, and can be cardiovascular if done with intensity. It is a well rounded, full body exercise that can be done with a 6 to 12 pound medicine ball depending on your strength and ability. 

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, holding a medicine ball (or other object if you don't one) in front of chest with elbows bent next to body. Squat down, keeping weight over heels and ball in front of chest.Stand up explosively, extending arms overhead; keep elbows close to ears. Do 10 to 12 reps

Genevieve Morritt’s clients adore her. She’s more than a trainer she’s a support system (with a killer sense of humor). Genevieve said "2 tiny muscle groups that can spruced up before you hit the beach are adductors and abductors. Jane Fonda is back."

Side-Lying Hip Abduction

Who doesn’t want a quick inner thigh spruce? This modified leg lift works the gluteus medius responsible for the lift at the top of the glut in a way that squats can’t. Do two sets until you feel the burn! Runners, this will provide your hip stabilizers with a fine-tuning to increase speed.  

This is not Genevieve in the photo

Amie Hoff is a Fitness consultant who developed FitKit. Fit Kit is great for travel and Fit Kit Golf is the perfect father’s day present. Amie is launching FitKit50+ next month that focuses on balance, stability and coordination. An avid athlete Amie is about to do a century ride with Team and Training in California in honor of her sister (go Amie!).

Squat Jump with Clap
Stand in squat position with butt back, knees behind the toes. Jump up with explosive move and clap feet together. Bend legs as you jump for more challenge. This move is great because it works every muscle in your legs, even inner thigh. And the added bonus is it gets your heart rate up which makes it a great calorie torcher.

These are great exercises and exercise you can do away from home as well. If I had to choose pre beach exercise I would probably suggest the old reliable push up or plank pose though I liked something Brynn said, “You can't out-train a bad diet; mindful eating is the best training move out there. Another trainer friend calls it the Table Push-Away.”

What are your favorite exercises? Will you try these? How about the Table Push-Away?