Hooray! Summer is on the horizon, and we all have a little more energy and a lot more joy that we can finish working when the sun is still up and have a nice grilled dinner on the deck. We can also hit the beach now, but a lot of us are cramming in the exercise to get our beach bodies ready. I have three words for all of you who are worried that you won’t be able to reach those goals in a month: yoga, Pilates and barre.

When it comes to toning up all those problem areas and building strength in the body, it’s a myth that you need to spend hours at the gym on weight machines and ellipticals to get there. In fact, it is more effective to do shorter workouts that work all the muscle groups using micro-movements and body-weight strength exercises.

Starting with yoga, one of the best poses to tone the upper body is a full Plank Pose. Holding this for 30 seconds to one minute will strengthen your arms and back and whittle down those triceps. Another great pose for the arms is Sphinx Pose. Lying on your stomach with your legs straight and the tops of your feet on the floor, rest your forearms on the floor and straighten your upper body so you look like the Sphinx statue and hold for up to five minutes. To tone your butt and legs, Chair Pose (Utkatasana) is both your nemesis and your best friend. Stand straight with your legs together and then sink back to a sitting position, keeping your upper body as straight as possible and sitting back as far as you can, arms out in front of you, and hold. You’ll feel it working immediately.

Pilates is truly one of the best things you can do to sculpt your core. Frog Circles are going to give you results pretty quickly. Lie down on your back and bend your knees into your chest. Interlace your hands behind your head and lift your head and shoulders off the floor like you’re doing a crunch. Be sure not to pull on your neck; use your ab strength to stay up. Now, straighten your legs up and lower them down to a hover and bring them back into your chest. Repeat 30 times, keeping your head and shoulders up. Shoulder Bridges are also a great move. Lay on your back with your feet flat on the floor and lift your legs and hips off the ground as high as you can while keeping your shoulder blades planted. Hold for one minute and then repeat.

Barre (not the city near Worcester, but ballet barre) is one of the most difficult exercise regimens you can do. It looks simple, but it actually combines a series of micro muscle movements that target muscles not often reached through other means. There are people who are as fit as they come who have trouble getting through a class. But what that also means is it works … and really well. Try taking a traditional squat pose and do this for 20 reps: With one hand on a barre or fingertips to a wall, turn your toes out and do the same squats, making sure to keep your back straight. Now, lift your heels off the floor and do the same squats. You’ll feel that tomorrow!

The pure light in me honors and respects the same in you. Namaste.

Jennifer Russo