Do you want to look amazing by getting in shape like a dancer? Follow American Idol’s Paula Abdul and Lipstick Jungle’s Brooke Shield’s workout regime below, designed by their Personal Trainer, Karen Voight, and be on your way to a sculpted, lean body with elegance, strength and perfect posture.
According to kickfitsports.com, this mini-circuit makes your workout time fun and efficient by combining movements that raise your heart rate and target your shoulders, abdominals, buttocks, and thigh muscles all at once. With some of the exercises, don’t be surprised if one side of your body is more difficult to train than the other side. We all have a more dominant side, but it is important to train them equally. Keep it up and you will develop balanced symmetry and stand tall with a strong sculpted sleek physique!
Paula Abdul’s Exercise Routine
Before beginning this routine, warm up with something as simple as walking on a treadmill, cycling, or a brisk walk around the block. It should take about 8-10 minutes to slowly raise your core temperature and prepare your body for the workout.
Each exercise should take about 1 ½ minutes with 15 seconds to set up for the next exercise. Focus on great form while you do as many repetitions as noted. As you get stronger, progress by cycling through the circuit twice and then three times, for a more advanced level.
1. Crunches on the Stability Ball – Abdominals
A. Lie your back and buttocks on a firm stability ball with your feet flat on the floor and knees bent. Place your hands behind your head to avoid using your neck muscles.
B. On an exhalation, contract your abdominal muscles, bend forward at the waist, and roll your head, shoulders, and upper back off the ball. Be sure to pay special attention to “closing” the rib cage and compressing your back into the ball. Do 12 repetitions.
2. Plank – Chest, Shoulders, Abdominals, & Quadriceps
A. Start by laying face down on the ground. Place your elbows directly below your shoulders, with forearms parallel to each other and the palms of your hand facing the floor. Curl your toes under and bend your knees.
B. Contract your abdominal muscles, straighten your knees, and balance on your toes and forearms. Maintain a strong center to avoid over-arching your lower back and sagging at your waist. Keep the hips at shoulder level and pull your abdominals in toward the spine. Maintain this position for 30 seconds, then bend your knees and lower your hips to the floor.
3. Knee Push Ups – Chest, Triceps, & Shoulders
A. Begin by kneeling with your knees hip-width apart. Place your hands on the floor shoulder-width apart with your fingers pointing forward. Pull the abdominals in toward your spine.
B. Keep your torso in a straight line and lower yourself toward the floor until your elbows are bent about 90-degrees. (You don’t need to touch your chest to the floor.) Contract your chest and push yourself back up. Check that you are pressing evenly over the palms of your hands. Avoid rolling to the outer edge of your hands. Keep your hips down and lift your belly up to prevent overarching your lower back. Do 12-16 repetitions.
4. Weighted “Figure 8” – Shoulders & Abdominals
A. Start from a seated position, legs bent at a 90-degree angle. Hold a 5 lb., dumbbell or medicine ball above the head with both hands. Roll back halfway or until you feel your abdominal muscles tighten. As you hold this position, focus on slowly and deliberately squeezing all muscles from the chest to pubic bone.
B. Begin to make “Figure 8” movements with both hands holding the weight. Work across the body from right to left. Continue until you have completed ten (10) “Figure 8” motions. Then, roll up and return to the start position. Do 3 repetitions.
5. Rotational Squat – Quadriceps, Buttocks, & Shoulders
A. Stand with your legs shoulder-width apart and your toes facing forward. Hold a 5 lb., dumbbell or medicine ball in front of your chest. Bend your knees into a squat and rotate your upper body to the right. Keep both arms straight and your hips and knees facing front.
B. Shift your weight to your left leg, straightening it as you lift your right knee in front of you. Simultaneously, rotate your torso to the center and raise your arms above your head. Remember to keep your arms straight throughout the entire movement. Step down and repeat the squat, rotating to your right for 8 repetitions. Switch legs and repeat on the other side.
6. Rear Lunge with Knee Lift Balance – Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Buttocks, Abdominals, & Shoulders
A. Begin by standing with feet together and hands at your sides. Lunge back with your left leg, bending both knees to 90-degrees. Make sure your right knee is directly above your right ankle. Straighten and raise both arms overhead, palms facing inward with your biceps near your ears. Pause for 2 seconds, pulling in your abdominal muscles to support an upright spine.
B. Simultaneously, push off with your rear left leg. Straighten and balance on your right leg with your left knee bent in front of you. Open and lower your arms to the side at shoulder height. Hold for 3-4 seconds. Circle your arms down and return to the start position. Do 8-12 repetitions. Switch legs and repeat.
Complete this circuit one (1) time if you are a beginner, two (2) times if you are at an intermediate level of fitness, and three (3) times if you are advanced.
Remember to always cool down before you finish this workout. You can do this by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, raise your arms overhead and lean your upper body to the left as far as you can while still breathing comfortably. Return to center and lean to your right side. Return to center, lower your arms to your sides, and roll your shoulders in a circle, then reverse. Finish by placing your hands at your hips and hinging forward with a straight back to stretch the backs of your legs and hips. Be sure to breathe fully and deeply throughout all of these cool down movements.
