6 Head-to-Toe Toning Moves

By Amy Gallo for Self.com

Experts agree that moves that challenge your balance fire muscles in your core, legs and booty in order to stabilize your body. Do the following strength routine in your toning shoes for an even bigger focus on balance. Plus, adding dumbbells to the workout sculpts your upper body for head-to-toe toning.

The expert Amy Dixon, group fitness manager at Equinox fitness club in Santa Monica, California, created our plan.

You’ll need A set of 3- to 5-pound weights and a pair of toning shoes. No shoes? No sweat. Regular sneakers will do.

The plan Do three sets of the moves, two or three times a week, on nonconsecutive days.

Lean-Leg Lift

Stand with feet wider than hip-width apart, toes turned out, holding a weight in each hand in front of legs. Rise onto balls of feet and bend knees slightly, then raise weights to shoulders, elbows bent, palms facing forward (as shown); lower arms for 1 rep. Do 15 reps.
WORKS THIGHS, CALVES, SHOULDERS, ARMS, ABS, BUTT

Thigh-Resizing Squat

Start in a deep squat, a weight in each hand, bent elbows touching knees, palms up (as shown). Rise to standing, extending right leg back as you extend arms in front, rotating arms so palms face down. Return to start. Repeat, extending left leg back. Do 15 reps.
WORKS THIGHS, SHOULDERS, ARMS, ABS, BUTT

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Butt-Boosting Bridge

Lie faceup, with knees bent, feet flat, a weight in each hand at chest. Lift hips, forming a straight line from shoulders to knees. Extend arms to ceiling, palms facing up, then extend left leg to ceiling. Squeeze butt as you lower arms to hover just above floor (as shown). Raise arms back to ceiling, then switch legs and repeat for 1 rep. Do 15 reps.
WORKS BUTT, SHOULDERS, ABS, HAMSTRINGS

Better-Booty Balance

Stand on left foot, right leg raised to hip level, knee bent 90 degrees. Hold a weight in each hand, left arm in front of you and right arm back, elbows bent, palms in (as shown). In one motion, swing right leg and left arm back and right arm forward, keeping knee and elbows bent. Return to start. Do 15 reps. Switch sides; repeat.
WORKS BUTT, ARMS, ABS, THIGHS, CALVES

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Rear-View Raise

Stand with left foot in front of right, right heel lifted, a weight in each hand, arms down. Lower into lunge and raise left arm to shoulder level, palm down (as shown). Following hand with eyes, raise left arm to ceiling, palm forward, then, in a circular motion, lower it behind you, palm facing leg. Return arm to shoulder level in front of you, palm down. Do 15 reps. Switch sides; repeat.
WORKS BUTT, SHOULDERS, ARMS, BACK, ABS, THIGHS, CALVES

Rump-Sculpting Reach

Stand with feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, a weight in each hand, right arm down, left arm extended to ceiling. Squat, lowering right arm toward floor outside right foot as you rotate torso left, turning left palm out and looking at left hand (as shown). Return to start. Do 15 reps. Switch sides; repeat.
WORKS BUTT, SHOULDERS, ARMS, ABS, THIGHS

photos: Tom Rafalovich (1); Bill Diodato

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