Dance Captain Coco Gilbert Shares 5 Workouts Perfect For The Absolute Beginner

5 Workouts For Absolute Beginners Recommended by Coco Gilbert

1. Forearm or Full Planks 

Bring yourself into a kneeling position, bending your elbows to a 90-degree angle and pitch forward to place your hands and forearms on the floor shoulder-width apart. When you're ready, extend your legs with your toes tucked under as you press into the plank. Distribute the weight into your hands evenly by spreading your fingers apart, keeping your abs tight and keeping your body in a straight line. Do this exercise for up to one minute or more.

2. Push-ups

Similar to your plank, begin in a kneeling position on a mat with your hands below your shoulders and knees behind your hips, lengthening the back and angling correctly. Leave your knees on the floor (or tuck your toes under after extending your legs), tighten your core and bend your elbows to lower the chest onto the floor. Repeat for desired number of repetitions. This exercise can be modified on the knees to build strength.

3. Hip Raises

Lie on your back on the floor, a mat or a towel with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Place your arms out to the sides at a 45-degree angle, squeeze your glutes, brace your core and raise your hips so that your body forms a straight line between the shoulders and the knees. Hold for 30 seconds, release into the body and repeat.

4. Downward Dog

For our yogis out there, or anyone looking to get into yoga, this may or may not be something you're familiar with already. On all fours, hands and knees. Spread the palms wide, stack the shoulders over wrists; knees are hip-distance apart, curl the toes under; then walk the palms just out in front of the shoulders. Be sure the palms are spread flat, no air under palms. Raise your body up and then back into the position by raising the knees off the mat while shifting the stomach toward the thighs. As the legs straighten, lift your hips up higher but be careful not to lock the legs to avoid injury. Lastly, hold and breathe. Start by doing this for 30-second intervals.

5. Wall Sit

This only requires your body and the wall - both of which are free of charge and found in your own home. There should be two right angles formed at the body - your hips and knees. Place your back against the wall with your feet shoulder-width apart and a small distance out from the wall; approximately two feet should do the trick. Feel it in your quadriceps yet? Make sure to engage your abdominal muscles and slowly slide your back down the wall until your thighs are parallel to the ground. If you want extra credit, try doing this position for one minute and work your way up as you build strength.

For more of Coco, follow her on Instagram.