FitnessHACK: (verb): to get the most out of your workout; to sweat with efficiency; to make every minute count; to find a better way to work out each time you step into class
(noun): one who uses mental prowess to deliver physical results; one who MacGyver’s his or her workout like a boss; one who contains a badass combination of savviness and grit (hashtags): #fitnessHACK #hacklikeaboss

New York City, a current ice and slush minefield (sidenote: enough with the puddles), wouldn’t know it, but underneath our triple layers of Luon and sweatpants are some pretty shapely legs. Your gams may be covered now, but in just a couple of months they will be parading down West Broadway in sundresses and cutoffs. (Oh, yea, I’m pulling the ‘summer’s coming’ card.)

You already know that Bari’s method is all about leaning out, toning up and sculpting every itty bitty inch. But how can you push your practice even further? How can make sure that every hour hour you spend in the classroom is delivering your best Bari body and sculpting your leanest legs? Let me hack it for you.

Kick your butt. No, not in the metaphorical sense, I want you to literally kick your butt. During floor cardio, especially, when our legs are working out at the highest impact they can, it is so easy to get tired and lose the quality of our movement. When we kick our butts, our quads lengthen out as long as they possibly can. By getting that leg to your butt, you are teaching your muscle to favor length as you tone.

Pay attention to the detail. Even when you are working another body part, like say, your tush, everything is connected and your legs are still working out. You may notice your trainer telling you to flex or point your toe. This isn’t aesthetics, my loves, this is super intentional. When you flex or point your toe in an exercise, you are working the back, front, or side of your leg. Notice the different parts of your legs that burn so good depending on the position of those twinkle toes.

Learn how to distribute your weight. Believe it or not, where your weight is distributed is probably the most determining factor of how you are working your leg. When you train privately or tackle classes with your Bari Coach, your trainer will be able to pick up on any weight distribution no-nos that are getting in your way, bulking you up, developing your muscles in an imbalanced way or causing discomfort.

There are some signs you can look out for on your own: When you squat, can you lift your toes up easily so that your weight is in your heel and your knee is over your ankle? Is your weight centered between your two legs? When you lunge to the back, are your shoulders staying directly over your hips? When you balance on one leg are you centering your weight in your foot or favoring the inside or outside? Again, listen to those cues your trainer is giving you to make sure your legs are getting the intended workout.

Bend your supporting leg. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Bend that baby! Locking out your knees does nothing but make a joint injury far more likely. Ain’t nobody got time for that. Bend that supporting leg and automatically your leg muscles go into overdrive to fatigue, break down, and rebuild into a new, long, lean shape. One you’ll be proud to show off in the spring and summer fashion that’s just around the corner. (Oops, I did it again.)

Catching up on past Fitness Hacks? Find out how to: make the music work for you and get more (calorie) burn for your buck. Have a Fitness Hack request? Email us at blog@thebaristudio.com!