An Athlete At Heart

I used to be an avid soccer player. Obsessed really. Even though I do a lot of Pilates, I am, and will always be, an athlete at heart. And right now, I’m really into moves that make me feel like an athlete. I like to feel strong and powerful. Bring on the intensity!

These four moves are designed to work you like an athlete. There are no breaks between moves. So transition from one to the next right away! Try out it and then repeat it three times around!

KNEES UP

Bring your hands in front of you, palms turned down and arms bent. Begin running in place, getting your knees up as high as possible. Try to get your knees to hit your hands. The higher the knees, the more you work your lower abs! So get those knees high!

Run for 1 full minute.

KICK BUTT

Bring your arms in front of you, folding one arm on top of the other. Keep running, but now, kick your butt with your heels.  Really lift up and kick. This helps wake up and stretch the front of the legs while still getting your cardiovascular work.

Run for 1 full minute.

RUNNERS LUNGE WITH LEAP

Come down into a low lunge. Your right leg is forward and your left leg back. Bend low into your lunge. Your opposite arm, your left arm, is on the floor and your right arm is behind you, extended straight towards the sky.

Push into your front leg, come to leap up into the air bringing your back knee (left knee) up and forward in front of you. Your arms with naturally switch position—where the left arm lifts up towards the sky and the right arm comes down.

Then land by bringing your left leg way back into the lunge, just as you started.

Repeat for 30 seconds then immediately switch legs.

KNEE TO STAND

With your hands interlaced behind your head. Come down onto your knees. Keeping your chest up and back straight, push into your right heel, and come to stand. Keep core engaged at all times. Exhale on the way up.

Once you stand, come back down onto the same right knee and return back to starting position. 

Repeat for 30 seconds on right leg then switch to other leg.

*Be careful that you don’t lean too far forward—try to stay upright. Be careful not to push into the ball of your foot or the toes. Stay in the heel.

Kit Rich is Los Angeles-based fitness trainer with endless exercise and nutritional know-how. Hollywood's hottest stars are addicted to Kit's unique, multi-disciplined approach that combines cardio, yoga, Pilates, and weight training. Kit's clients are immediately taken by her funny and honest approach to health and fitness. She treats her clients as she treats herself, "with a hard challenge, sensibility, sensitively, and a good laugh." Follow Kit on Twitter @kitrichfitness.