Healthy Hollywood: Bradley Cooper’s Oscar Ready Body!

Hollywood’s biggest night, the Oscars, is Sunday! And, you can bet the stars are in a full on frenzy to get ready for their red carpet stroll.

Eating right and exercise are a big part of their pre-Oscar preps. And, it’s not just the ladies who need to look fabulous. Best Supporting Actor nominee Bradley Cooper keeps his body in Oscar-worthy shape at Equinox.

Anja Garcia, an Equinox group fitness instructor, put together a full body workout that’s sure to whip any celebrity or even us regular folks into picture perfect shape.

LEGS & BUTT
Lean, sexy legs are a red carpet imperative! The goal is to work more muscle and burn more calories.

1) Curtsy Crunch:
Step right leg back to bend both knees into curtsy lunge. Stand up and pull same leg up to standing side crunch. This move not only strengthens and shapes the legs and glutes, you get the added bonus of abdominal/core training.

2) (Take No) Prisoner Squat Jumps:
Begin with hands behind head keeping chest open and spine neutral. Explode up from the floor to perform jump. Land quietly in squat and repeat move as fast as possible with good form. This move burns tons of calories to speed up your results.

3) Donkey Kick:
With hands on floor and hips up in a modified Down Dog position, jump and kick heels to your butt. This is a true cardio challenge move!

CHEST, ARMS & SHOULDERS
Sculpted arms, defined shoulders and a “lifted” add elegance to any gown. These three exercises create a torso that will turn heads.

1) Corkscrew Pushups
Perform pushup on hands and toes then shift back to drop butt to heels, twisting to one side. Come forward to plank and repeat pushup, shift back and twist to other side. In addition to your arms, your chest and abs get a double dose of burn in this body weight movement.

2) TKO (Total Knockout) Punches
Amp the cardio and sculpt arms with a combo of punches from jab, cross, upper cut and hook. Drill 1 punch or combine for 3-minute bouts of cardio then recover for 1 minute and repeat. Equipment not needed with this exercise as you will see results in no time.

3) Single Leg Mountain Climbers
Balance in a plank position on hands and right foot. Jump the left foot in and out for 30 seconds. then switch ands repeat on other side. The arms and shoulders will burn and you get a bonus ab and leg kicker!

BACK
Dare to bare that beautiful back!

1) Bird Dog
Begin in plank position on hands and toes. Lift right arm and left leg and hold for 10 seconds. Lower and repeat with the opposite arm and leg. Your back and your butt will benefit from this stability and strength challenge.

2) Superman Lat Pull
Begin on your belly with your legs extended and arms overhead. Lift your torso and legs up to extend your spine. With your neck neutral, perform a lat pull drawing your elbows to your side. Reach your arms overhead again and to the starting position with torso down. Great for posture as well as a sculpted back.

3) V Press Plank
Begin in a push up plank position with hands a little wider than your shoulders, legs extended with feet hip width apart. Keeping arms straight, press back to a modified Down Dog with knees bent. Holding this inverted V position, bend elbows out to the side and lower head towards the floor simulating an upside down overhead press. This move targets the shoulders, back and core all at once.

For more fitness tips, check out www.equinox.com.

— Terri MacLeod