A Fast Upper Body and Core Workout for the Time Crunched Client

Need a challenging workout for a client who only has 30 minutes? Maybe they showed up late for their session or have to leave early. Perhaps they’ll be traveling and could use some inspiration for the road. 30 minutes is plenty of time to leave your clients feeling energized and strong.

In addition to traditional training programs that often last an hour or more, try writing a handful of “quick burn” workouts to keep on file for those days when a client needs to get the job done in a short amount of time. These workouts allow a client to remain committed to exercising without investing an hour he or she may not have due to unexpected events or unusually busy weeks or days.

Here’s an example of an upper body/core “quick burn” circuit. It requires no equipment and very little space.

Upper Body and Core Quick Burn Circuit

The Warm-Up

Begin with a 5 to 10-minute warmup that includes a combination of low-intensity cardio, such as a brisk walk or jog, to raise the heart rate and increase muscle temperature. Include dynamic movements which incorporate a full range of motion. Include exercises such as windmills, high knees, lunge with twist, leg swings, and butt kicks. Once the warm-up is completed, move on to the next phase.

Conditioning Phase

While this circuit includes 30-second intervals for three to five rounds, this is easily altered for any client based on his or her skill and fitness level. Instruct clients to remain hydrated throughout the conditioning phase and to stop when necessary. The goal of this type of circuit is to perform as many reps as possible (AMRAP) in the given time frame and move immediately on to the next exercise in the set.

Set 1 – 30 seconds each exercise – repeat set three to five times.

□   Pushups (perform 1-legged pushups for an extra challenge)

□   Bicycles

□   Burpees

□   Mountain Climbers

Once the first set is completed, move on to the second set.

Set 2 – 30 seconds each exercise – repeat set three to five times.

□   Traveling pushups

□   Chair Dips

□   Sun Salutations

□   Supermans (or Superwomans)

The Cool-Down

A cool-down phase is equally as important as the warm-up or conditioning bout. The cool-down period allows the body to slowly return to resting state allowing the person to calmly instead of frantically go on with their day/night. Encourage clients to take a few laps around a track or walk for a few minutes on a treadmill (or use another type of cardio machine). Follow this up with flexibility exercises or a list of stretches the client can do while on the road or at home.

“Quick burn” workouts are fun to design and effective at burning calories and building stamina and strength. Use your creativity and build new exercises or invent challenging modifications for a range of skill levels.

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