This exercise will firm up some hard-to-target muscles! It will strengthen and tone upper-hip muscles, quadriceps, and glutes (buttocks), with abdominal and spinal extensors as stabilizers. This exercise is also easy to do at home, or on the road in your hotel room.

• Lie on your left side with legs extended, right leg slightly in front of left. Your body weight is supported on your left elbow and left hip. Your right arm rests on your right side, and your left elbow is bent and in line with your left shoulder, palm on floor.
• Contract your abs and hold your torso erect; it should form a straight line between your head and your hips.
• Using your left upper-hip and buttocks muscles and keeping your abs tight, press the side of your left foot into the floor and lift your hips until your body forms a straight line to feet.
• Hold for a count of 3, and then lower your hips to the starting position. Complete 15 to 20 repetitions and switch sides, completing 3 sets. Beginner’s start with 1 set and gradually works up to 3.

Tip On Form: To make your upper body muscles work even harder, concentrate on keeping your body in line (don’t let your knees or butt stick out to the sides at all). Always keeping abdominals drawn in.

Advanced Tip: Perform the last set or all sets on one leg by lifting your top leg off the floor and holding it in line with and just above your bottom leg.