For today, I have a functional core workout for ya! The key word here is “functional” so this means that it’s based on movements that you would use and perform in real life. Don’t get me wrong, I think funky ab moves can be fun, but they’re no point during the day that you’re doing a thousand tiny crunch movements while making a figure 8 with your legs. (<— I made that move up, but you know what I mean)

Feel free to add this in when you want a quick burn, or if you’re working to improve your core strength and posture.  

Form cues and tips:

Deadlift: Hold a barbell, pair of dumbbells, or kettlebell, and tap one leg behind you. You can keep it here, with the weight in your front foot as you tilt forward, bringing the weights just below the knees. Exhale and rise with a flat back. For more advanced variations, you can float this top foot off the floor. Make sure to keep hips parallel to the floor. 

Squat: Make sure your feet are underneath your shoulders (hip width or slightly wider is good) and toes slightly turned out. Hold a pair of heavy dumbbells and focus on sitting back, while keeping your chest lifted and a tight core. Inhale to lower, exhale to rise. Make sure that your knees go towards your toes, but not far past your toes. Sink your hips as low as your flexibility allows, whether it’s a small squat, or to hips just above knee level. You can squat lower than knee level if it works for you, but generally it’s not something that I recommend.