The upper body section of the classes at SHIFT by Dana Perri creates an amazing opportunity for you to tone and strengthen your chest, shoulders, back and arms. If you use words like “soft” or “weak” when you talk about your upper body, give this work out a try for a few months and you’ll be saying “feelin’ stronger every day!”
The key to a SHIFT workout is non-stop aerobic and resistance exercises combined and set to motion. Creator Dana Perri choreographs upper body exercises into continuous sequences with intervals to build strength and endurance at the same time. She puts the routine to music and combines yoga, Pilates, dance, and aerobics to get the body pumping and the blood flowing!
The upper body portion of an exercise class often doesn’t get the attention it should. In some routines it can get lost between the cardio section and the abdominal exercises. Not at SHIFT. The upper body series gets all the attention it needs and deserves.
Here are five exercises included in the SHIFT upper body series:
The Single Arm Over Head Ball Press is an overall strength exercise for the upper body. It works the chest, shoulders, and arms. It also improves the shoulder and core flexibility. Gripping the exercise ball in one-hand changes the dynamic of the exercise. It promotes equal strength between the right and left sides of the body.
The Back Fly 45 targets the rear shoulders and upper back. Using a dumbbell in one arm, lean forward and keep the back straight. Raise the arm to the side until the elbows are slightly higher than the shoulders. Return and repeat.
The Double Arm Over Head Ball Press builds tone and strength in the shoulders and triceps. With a dumbbell in each hand, raise the dumbbells to shoulder height with your palms facing forward. Exhale and push the dumbbells upward until they touch at the top. Lower your hands back down to the starting position.
The Double Handle Single Bicep Curl works the bicep muscle of each arm. Grab both handles of the band in one hand. Stand with the band at mid-point beneath your foot. With your arm extended down and palm up, curl your arm up, bringing your palm towards your chin. Pause at the top and lower your arm slowly to the starting position.
The Tricep Overhead Extension with Ball builds strength in the triceps of the upper arm. With the exercise ball in hand, stand shoulder width apart and lift the ball straight over head with your arm extended. Keeping your upper arm close to your head with your elbow in, lower the ball by bending your arm at the elbow. Lower the ball as far as your elbow bends. Extend the arm back to the starting position.
Dana Perri choreographs these exercises into her classes. They are non-stop with intervals to keep the heart rate up while performing the resistance exercises. The upper body workout is part of the full body workout designed to tone and strengthen the entire body. SHIFT combines aerobic movements with resistance training to give the best opportunity for health and fitness.
