Upper Body Workouts

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    12 Cross-Training Workouts Perfect For Weightlifters, Runners And More

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    If we were to compare cross-training workouts to something, we’d call it the “everything in moderation” axiom of fitness. A bit of everything, the practice highlights the importance of all kinds of movements. It’s especially useful for people in specific training programmes, like marathon plans, triathlons and weight-lifting regimens. What is cross-training, exactly? The reason it’s so great? Cross-training, like the name suggests, involves working in different modes of movement, combining cardio, strength and flexibility to create a well-rounded balance in the body. And, since most people commit to one or two kinds of workouts over others, cross-training is a useful way to prevent boredom and fill in any gaps and weaknesses. It’s also important for preventing injuries. There are far more ways to cross-train than just mixing weights with cardio. Some disciplines combine functionalities, like yoga, while others focus on specific body parts or impact zones. These 12 cross-training workouts are great for whatever you’ve got going on, since they can be done at any time. For best results, slot in whichever your body needs on days alternate with your main focus. If you’re training cardio mostly, slot in strength training or HIIT to build strength. READ MORE: What Is Cross-Training, Exactly? We’re Glad You AskedSwimming cross-training workouts Swimming is one of the best cross-training workouts, since. it targets the entire body from shoulders to thighs, creates a kickass core and is low-impact. You can also tailor your swimming workout to whatever you need: on fatigued days, go for slow, long swims to loosen up tight muscles. When you’re relaxed, go for high-intensity sprints to grow your aerobic capacity.

    The real key to a strong swimming workout: move past your sea turtle pace and into a fast, kilojoule-obliterating one.

    Here, perfect bodyweight strength moves for swimmers that will also tone up your endurance for whatever your sport.

     These swimming tips from the pros will elevate your stroke and help you get more streamlined – and faster – in the water.

    Mobility movements The great thing about mobility movement is that you can do it pretty much anywhere with minimal equipment. That’s because you’re using your own body weight as the load and gravity to create resistance. Also, the focus on lateral and cross-sectional movements encourages flexibility and relaxation.

    If you’re struggling with focus or feeling overwhelmed, this yoga flow is exactly what you need to unwind. 

    These body-weight moves are effective ways to build functional strength and sculpt sexy, lean muscle tone.

    Yes, it’s possible to up the ante and turn your yoga flow into a sweaty interval training session.

    READ MORE: Have You Got Tight Hips? Take This Quick Mobility TestHeart-pumping cross-training workoutsGet the best of cardio and strength with pacey functional movements that prioritise plyometrics and speed. The best part? Get it all done in under 30 minutes.

    This total-body explosive workout from Shaun T, Insanity creator, builds in intensity to give you great results fast.

    It’s perfect for any space, even a smaller-than-ideal hotel room or the beach, and will get your heart rate up. 

    This workout prioritises speed over power for all-over toning and, of course, hitting those heart rate goals.

    READ MORE: 18 Relaxing Local Getaways To Book, Like NowMaximise your rest days Your rest days don’t have to relegate you to the couch like a Victorian-era woman wasting away of melancholia. Even the most painful of DOMS can benefit from dynamic stretching and relaxed walks. These recovery hacks and tools are worth your consideration.

    Walk your way to a healthier weight with these expert-approved tips.

    Find 11 of the best active recovery workouts to do on your off days.

    We’ve rounded up the top recovery tools that soothe tired muscles.

    BONUS: Saima Husain’s 28-day plan for upper-body strength Upper-body strength has been proven to power performance on lower-body days. “You need strong grip and upper-body muscles to be able to lift weights in lower-body exercises such as deadlifts and squats,” says trainer Saima Husain. This 28-day plan, devised by Husain, hits them all in three 20-minute workouts. On alternate days, you’ll recover; it’s the perfect time to slot in swimming, cross-training workouts, mobility or complete rest. “My plan is suitable for all levels of fitness. Beginners can start with lighter weights, enabling them to focus on their form, while advanced exercisers can go heavier and take less of a rest between sets,” Husain recommends.Get the March/April 2024 edition of Women’s Health magazine South Africa for the moves and access to the complete workout set! The programme below details which days to rest, when to cross-train and when to lift weights. Subscribe to WH and get this programme now!This 28-day programme was first published in the Women’s Health UK magazine May 2024 edition and was written by Bridie Wilkins. More

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      This No-Equipment Upper-Body Workout Blasts The Arms And Shoulders

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      When you think of strengthening your arms and shoulders, you might assume you need dumbbells, kettlebells, bands, or any other resistance equipment you can get your hands on. While those modalities are all awesome and effective, you can get a well-rounded, sweaty and super-effective upper-body workout using just your body weight. Really! Here’s how.Meet the expert: Ariel Belgrave, CPT, is the creator of The L.E.A.N. Program fitness and nutrition coaching and the program creator behind the Women’s Health 28-Day Workout Challenge.The moves in the workout ahead combine cardio and strength training for an optimal combination that not only gets your heart rate revving but also helps you change your body composition and increase muscle definition, endurance and overall strength, Belgrave says.The exercises also prioritise putting your body into weight-bearing positions for maximum resistance sans gym equipment. For instance, in the inchworm to shoulder tap as well as the downward dog toe tap, you move in and out of a high plank position, which recruits tons of upper-body, while also working the core and glutes to keep you stable. So much bang for your buck! Time: 20 minutes | Equipment: None | Good for: Full body (with an emphasis on shoulders, biceps, triceps, back)Instructions: Warm up with 30 seconds of TYWs and 30 seconds of arm circles (shown below). Then, perform as many reps as possible (AMRAP) of each move for 40 seconds, followed by 20 seconds of rest. Repeat the workout exercises for a total of 4 rounds.Warm-Up: TYWHow to:Start standing with feet hip-width apart, then hinge at the hips to bring your torso slightly forward. Maintain a straight back. Extend arms out to sides to form a T shape.

      Maintaining your body position, swing the arms up so the upper arms align with the ears, forming a Y shape.

      Core engaged the entire time, bend elbows to waist and retract the shoulder blades to form a W shape.

      Continue repeating the sequence.Warm-Up: Arm CirclesHow to:Stand with feet hip-width apart, arms extended out to sides.

      Keeping shoulders down and core engaged, bring arms up and around in medium-sized circles.

      After 15 seconds, reverse the direction.Jab PunchesHow to:Start in a boxer’s stance with your left leg forward and right leg back, knees bend, fists protecting face.

      Punch the left arm out and pull first quickly back to face, then repeat with the right arm. Continue alternating.READ MORE: Try This Upper-Body Dumbbell Strength Workout For Serious Arm SculptingInchworm To Shoulder TapHow to:Start standing with feet hip-width apart.

      Reach down to ground and crawl out into a plank position.

      Keeping hips square to ground, lift right hand to tap left shoulder, then return right hand to ground and lift left hand to tap right shoulder. Return left hand to ground.

      Walk hands back to feet and return to standing. That’s one rep.Form fix: Keep your hips and torso totally still as you perform the shoulder taps.Downward Dog To Toe TapHow to:Start in a high plank position.

      Press torso back toward legs so that your heels lower to the ground, while reaching left arm to right toes. Maintain a long spine.

      Return to high plank.

      Repeat movement, bringing right arm to left toes.

      Return to high plank. That’s one rep. Continue alternating.READ MORE: The Best 28-Day Workout Challenge To Get Stronger All Over Using Only DumbbellsPush-up And Plank RowHow to:Start in a modified plank position, knees on ground, wrists under shoulders. Maintain a long spine.

      Lower into a push-up so your chest hovers just above the floor and elbows are close to sides.

      Push up from ground to return to modified plank position, then drive right elbow toward sky, performing a row.

      Return right hand to ground. Repeat row with left arm.

      Return left hand to ground. That’s one rep.Superwoman With Arm ExtensionHow to:Start lying face-down, legs extended, arms tucked at sides.

      Lift legs and extend arms overhead simultaneously, engaging back, lats, glutes and shoulders.

      Pause, then lower legs and bend arms to sides to return to starting position. That’s one rep.This article by Jacqueline Andriakos was originally published on Women’s Health US. More

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      Try This Upper-Body Dumbbell Strength Workout For Serious Arm Sculpting

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      Trainer Ariel Belgrave’s favourite fitness word? Flex. And you can bet you’re going to be doing a whole lotta that during (and after!) the upper-body dumbbell workout coming up. This 20-minute arms and shoulder blaster is made up of compound movements that work multiple joints and/or muscle groups in your top half for an efficient and powerful strength session.Meet the expert: Ariel Belgrave, CPT, is the creator of The L.E.A.N. Program fitness and nutrition coaching and the program creator behind the Women’s Health 28-Day Workout Challenge.If you want arm muscles that pop, or simply to feel more comfortable and confident playing a racket sport, carrying your kid, or lifting a suitcase overhead, this circuit is for you. The exercises included aim to hit the upper body from different angles (think: an Arnold press followed by a back fly and row), so you get stronger all over and help eliminate muscle imbalances.Need to modify? That’s okay! Feel free to move through the workout without dumbbells first to nail the movement patterns and form. Then, come back again. Or, you can try a round or two with dumbbells and use just your body weight when you feel fatigued. The goal is to keep coming back and getting stronger. Ready, set, sweat along with Belgrave in the videos below.Time: 20 minutes | Equipment: Light to medium dumbbells | Good for: Upper bodyInstructions: Warm up with 30 seconds of TYWs and 30 seconds of arm swings (shown below). Then, perform as many reps as possible (AMRAP) of each move for 40 seconds, followed by 20 seconds of rest. Repeat the workout exercises for a total of 4 rounds.Warm-Up: TYWHow to:Start standing with feet hip-width apart, then hinge at the hips to bring your torso slightly forward. Maintain a straight back. Extend arms out to sides to form a T shape.

      Maintaining your body position, swing the arms up so the upper arms align with the ears, forming a Y shape.

      Core engaged the entire time, bend elbows to waist and retract the shoulder blades to form a W shape.

      Continue repeating the sequence.Warm-Up: Arm SwingsHow to:Stand with feet hip-width apart, arms extended out to sides.

      Keeping shoulders down and core engaged, bring arms up and around in medium-sized circles.

      After 15 seconds, reverse the direction.READ MORE: Try This Shy Girl Upper Body Workout If You Lack Confidence At GymSingle Single Double Biceps CurlHow to:Start standing with feet hip-width apart, one DB in each hand, palms facing out.

      Core and glutes engaged, raise the DB in the right hand to right shoulder. Lower it back down.

      Repeat with the left side. Lower left hand back down.

      Then, perform a biceps curl with both arms simultaneously. Lower back down. That’s one rep.Arnold PressHow to:Stand with feet hip-width apart, one dumbbell in each hand, racked at shoulders with palms facing toward you.

      With core engaged, rotate and raise dumbbells overhead, performing a press. At the top of the move, palms should face out.

      Lower the dumbbells back down to starting position. That’s one rep.Back Fly And RowHow to:Stand with feet roughly hip-width apart or slightly wider, one dumbbell in each hand at sides.

      Hinge at hips to bring torso and arms and dumbbells forward. This is your starting position.

      Using your back muscles, raise dumbbells out to sides toward sky, so that arms are parallel to ground. Lower DBs back down.

      Next, drive elbows back toward sky to perform a bent-over row, so that the DBs land near hips.

      Lower DBs back to starting position. That’s one rep.READ MORE: You Can Sculpt Your Whole Body With This One R199 Piece Of EquipmentHalo And Press OutHow to:Stand with feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, holding one dumbbell in both hands, resting it on thighs. Raise DB to chest. That’s your starting position.

      Bend arms and raise dumbbell toward left shoulder, then continue to circle it around your head to the right shoulder, ending with the DB at your chest.

      When the DB is at the chest, press it out to the left, fully extending the arms.

      Bring the DB back to your chest. That’s one rep. After 20 seconds, switch directions.Skull CrusherHow to:Lie on back with knees bent and feet planted into ground. Hold one dumbbell in each hand and extend arms straight above chest.

      Without moving the upper arms, bent at the elbows to lower DBs toward the sides of your head.

      Extend DBs back to sky. That’s one rep.This article by Jacqueline Andriakos was originally published on Women’s Health US. More

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      4 Reasons Why Bouldering Should Be Your New Workout

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      People have an affinity for climbing. I used to climb an endless amount of trees as a kid. But it doesn’t go away when you grow up. Bouldering is my challenge for this year’s Women’s Health #WHGetsFit winter fitness challenge, and I’m loving it. Climbing has only just been added to the list of Olympic sports. It’s […] More