As we saw with Cara Delevingne’s recent fitness transformation from supermodel to action hero goddess, a basic set of dumbbells can go a long way when it comes to pumping up your bod. If the closest you’ve come to lifting weights is lugging the groceries home after work, though, you may not know exactly where to begin. Girl, we gotchu. The truth is, you’re probably already doing more than you might think!
Take it from celebrity trainers David Kirsch, who has worked with such megababes as Heidi Klum, Kate Upton, Kelly Ripa, and Harley Pasternak, whose client list runs the gamut from Kim Kardashian and Lady Gaga to Rihanna, Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry.
The Preparation
We asked the trainers to give us the lowdown on how to get started with our very own at-home small space gym we could even squeeze into our tiny apartments, beginning with equipment — or lack thereof. All you really need to get going, Kirsch says, is a positive mindset. “For me, the idea of exercise is countering potential excuses that people come up with for not working out,” he shares. “You don’t need the perfect dumbbells or exercise mat. It’s great if you have it, but if not, [use] what you have!” Case in point? On a recent vacay, Kirsch used an 8oz. water bottle as weight substitute. That’s not the first time he’s gotten creative either. “[When] my girls (six-year-old daughters Emilia and Francesca) were younger, I’d use them as weights,” he laughs.
“[In almost] everything that you do, you’re moving your body, [and if] you’re moving your body, you’re exercising,” Kirsch says. Even everyday activities, such as mopping, can help you to build muscle. “Mopping, [for instance], works your arms, biceps and triceps.” Swiffering too, y’all ;)
No matter what you choose to bulk up with, make sure it’s suitable for you and your needs. As Pasternak says, no one size fits all, and what works for one person might not work as well for someone else. He points to factors such as “…your injury status, your coordination [and] your exercise history” when determining what type of weight to use. “Maybe you’re someone that’s played other sports that have strengthened you in different ways,” he says. That might make you a candidate for a slightly heavier weight. Overall, Pasternak recommends that beginners start with anywhere from no weights (using their own body instead) to 10lb. weights. Kirsch, for one, says he also prefers solid dumbbells to those that are plated. “I feel safer,” he says.
You’re almost ready to begin, but before you go lifting those bad boys willy nilly, Pasternak recommends seeing a trainer, or, at the very least, pulling up a Youtube video to check out correct weight-lifting form. Both men also strongly advocate setting up shop in front of a mirror to check that your body is properly in line and to help get you prepped for your workout. “I find it motivational,” Kirsch says. “It helps you establish that mind/body connection, which is so, so important.”
The Equipment
All you REALLY need is a basic set of dumbbells ($21). Almost too easy…
The Exercises
Once you’re all geared up and good to go, you can go ahead and get started with one of these tried and true exercises as shared by Kirsch and Pasternak. Do them in order or mix it up – both men wholeheartedly agree that mixing up your routine is key. “I would probably train each muscle once a week,” Pasternak says.
Try Shoulder Presses: “I’d probably start with a lighter weight [here],” Kirsch begins. Then, once you’ve checked your form, maintain a natural grip on the dumbbell. “Hold [them] at shoulder width distance at shoulder height,” he says. With your knees slightly bent, Kirsh says to extend your arms and then retract them, “really focusing on your shoulders” as opposed to your abs. Repeat for 10-15 reps. (via Kirsch)
Try Single-Arm Dumbbell Rows: Beginning in a lunge position, place your left knee forward and extend your right leg all the way back. Keeping your arms down, hold the dumbbell in your right hand. Place your left forearm on your left thigh for support, then slowly pull your right arm back in a controlled manner, dragging your elbow along your ribs. Switch so that your right knee is forward and your left leg is all the way back. Hold the dumbbell in your left arm and repeat above process. (via Pasternak)
Try Situps With Dumbbells: “Lie on an exercise mat or a towel and have your legs straight out,” Kirsch says. From there, holding a three-pound dumbbell and your arms out over your head, sit up. Those who aren’t quite as strong or with lower back issues can do an easier variation of this exercise by keeping your knees bent and doing crunches over full sit ups. (via Kirsch)
Try Dumbbell Side Bends: Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder width. Hold a dumbbell or a jug of water in your right arm. Bend your left arm so that your fingers touch your left temple. From there, tip over (like a teapot) while sliding the dumbbell up your body. Switch sides, doing an equal number of reps on each. (via Pasternak)
The Results
While you might not see results right away (Pasternak and Kirsch estimate one to several months), Kirsch says you’ll begin to feel better almost immediately. “[Clients] immediately start feeling more positive and optimistic and even looking at food in a different way,” he tells us. That’s a good thing, because according to Pasternak, how you eat can be just as key to achieving your dream results as your actual workout. “It really depends on your diet more than anything,” he says.
But don’t rush full speed ahead in an effort to combat those cheese fries. “Move at the same pace as you move [in] everyday life,” Pasternak suggests. “If something feels wrong, painful or uncomfortable…[stop]. Exercise is not supposed to feel wrong.” We definitely hear that.
For more information, check out David Kirsch’s Ultimate Family Wellness book and Harley Pasternak’s new read, 5 Pounds.
Have you tried David and Harley’s Tips Yet? Keep us posted on your progress on our Instagram at @britandco.
(Photos via David Kirsch and Harley Pasternak)
Artist Dev Heyrana On How Bravery, Resilience and Sunshine Influence Her Work
Ever meet someone who you feel immediate kinship with on a deep almost spiritual level? That is legit every person's experience upon meeting Dev Heyrana, the star of this edition of Creative Crushin'. A fine artist, hip hop dance teacher and constant collaborator, Dev's particular brand of creativity is one-of-a-kind. She manages to be warm, welcoming and woke, with a focus on inclusivity, social justice and motherhood that comes through in every piece of art she creates.
Anjelika Temple here, co-founder of Brit + Co and one of many humans who has benefitted from Dev's boundless generosity and kindness. We first connected at a launch event, then I asked her if she and her family would like to model for a B+C shoot (they did!), then months later, I asked the IG universe if anyone would be down to co-parent with me for a day so I could speak at a conference. Dev said yes! And for those that know her, none of these serendipitous moments are surprising.
Now it's time to delve more into Dev's story, her creative inspiration, her thoughtful approach to parenting and what makes her more passionate than ever about bringing her point of view and artistic voice into the universe.
Anjelika Temple: First, foundations. Where did you grow up? What is your heritage? What did you study in school? Where do you live now?
Dev Heyrana: Born in The Philippines and immigrated to the U.S. when I was 9 years old. Me and my family are from the island of Cebu and I'm a proud Cebuana. My childhood in the Philippines felt like freedom. I had my swimsuit in my backpack for whenever we decided to swim and I biked everywhere.
Immigrating here at 9 yrs old was a transition, to say the least. My parents had big dreams but the move was heavy on them. It wasn't easy. I had to grow up fast. I took care of my sisters while my parents worked night shifts. By the age of 12 I would cook dinner and get my sisters ready for bed. Something I didn't realize was that kids my age didn't do those things until I got older. We would play these make-believe games to make, in hindsight, our hard situation brighter.
I think this is really when art played a big role in my life. It was something I could escape in and always felt healing.
I witnessed racism towards my family and didn't know how to make sense of it. These events left a mark. I was a quiet kid and observed everything and everyone around me. I think about my grandparents, Lolo Jose and Lola Rita, a lot as I walk through life. When I make decisions. As hard as it feels, you have two choices, do you let it take you down or take it one step at a time forward. I kept going and it really shaped me as to why I am the way I am today.
I studied Fine Arts at The Corcoran in DC. I owe that decision to my art teacher, Mr Giles, in High School. He was retiring and wore a Hawaiian shirt every day during my senior year. He was a curmudgeon and I felt incredibly special since out of everyone in the school he really believed in me. As grumpy as he seemed to the class, he would tell me things like "Go into the other studio and break some glass, then put it on a canvas." He's the reason why my abstract pieces have elements like clay and sand in them.
I've had incredible mentors and all were teachers. Mr. Giles in High School and Christine George in College. Christine was the one who told me to go either to New York or San Francisco because "D.C. is no place for an artist like you." She told me to not listen to anyone, how I can still paint, be a graphic designer, and, if I choose to, have a family. I've never had anyone tell me anything like that before.
I took a chance because of her. Moved and went to Design School in 2006 and I've stayed in the Bay Area ever since, raising two girls with the love of my life.
Anj: You are one of those magical human beings that has figured out how to be a full-time artist. What was your career path like before you were able to dive fully into your creative passions?
Dev: The most radical thing I could have done in my family, I did, I went to college for Fine Arts. A mix of being so young and having to do it on my own, I went with the school that gave me more scholarships. Even then I worked three jobs to be able to get through it. Hard work is ingrained in me.
With my sculpture background, I fell in love with Print and Packaging and why I came out here to San Francisco. I appreciated the security of having a career in Graphic Design. I also learned how to work with clients and the business side of things. Even then, I never stopped painting.
A few years ago I went through a pretty hard time with my health. I dealt with six surgeries in one year and I still have to do some follow-up ones. That experience almost broke me and what got me through was my family and painting in bed while I recovered.
When I finally got back on my feet, my heart just wasn't in Graphic Design anymore. So I made a two year plan. With a toddler and a mortgage, I wanted to make sure my steps were thought out. I put myself out there as an Artist while I still worked in Design. After a year I worked part time as a Graphic Designer and stepped down from my Creative Director position. I loved it, to be creative as an Artist and as a Designer. I looked at 2018 as my year to make the jump. If my work as an Artist balances out with my salary then I would quit in the Summer of 2019. And so here we are. I also am sharing a studio with my good friend, Naomi PQ, and I feel like my creative drive is just beginning.
Anj: What do you love about painting? How do you feel when you're in a creative flow state?
Dev: Like every part of me is free. Free to express myself through the stroke of my hand. How all of it leads back to my heart. These elements I use to paint have a mind of their own and how I need to respect the process.
It centers me and reminds me that the process is just like the life we lead. I know I still have so much more to learn but while I'm painting no matter how it's going, I'll embrace this moment.
Anj: You reference your roots quite a bit in your work. Talk to me more about how your roots inspire your work.
Dev: One of my earliest memories is of my Lolo Jose teaching me how to water mango saplings. He converted to Buddhism when my mother was young, so he viewed the world with love and kindness. I didn't realize it then but watering those mango trees were life lessons. We need to take the time to nurture, practice patience, and respect all living things. I still imagine him walking beside me often, carrying his teachings as I find my way in this world.
Nature and the Sun drive my pieces. My abstract works are fragments of moments. Like the sunset I grew up with when I was seven years old in the Philippines, like how I saw the water in Cebu when I dove in as a young adult, and like when I saw the redwoods with my children for the first time.
I see earth in our skin and especially when I paint people. How our mango trees grew and blossomed because the dark earth was rich with nutrients. I imagine the Sun piercing through these women I depict. I paint their love and bravery because their resilience cannot be contained. I want to celebrate all of it.
This is the beauty of Art, I am able to paint exactly how I see it.
Anj: Motherhood and your daughters are also central themes in your work. How has motherhood changed your approach to creating artwork?
Dev: Everything. I was still deep in my Design Career and I would paint at home. One day Quinn, who was 3 years old at the time introduced me at the park to a mom. "This is my mom, she's an Artist." It struck me that my toddler knew who I was more than I knew myself. That's really when I really owned it. I am more fearless because of my girls.
I own my body, I thank people when they compliment me, and I am selective but fearless when I use my voice. I am more in tune how I speak about myself because of them. When I paint these women I want to celebrate them. I notice how I embrace myself is translated in my paintings.
Anj: What advice can you give to parents who are trying to tap into their kiddos' innate creativity?
Dev: I don't have a lot of guidelines set up. I'll say "Let's draw the biggest fish we can draw" or "how many silly lines can we make" and I let them lead me. They ask me questions, show me things, and I sit there with my coffee watching their eyes wide with excitement. Watching them in their creative process is pure joy for me. Those silly lines can turn into a dragon or waves and next thing we know, we're drawing a big beach scene. My advice would be that you can suggest something to start it off but be open to how they take it. It is such a beautiful window into their minds.
Anj: Shifting gears to HIP HOP DANCE! Talk to us about his component of your creative expression.
Dev: I loved the Hip Hop scene in DC and discovered how much fun the clubs were in college. My friends told me about this Hip Hop Crew I should try out for, I was so scared because I've never taken a dance class in my life. I got in and it was like having another family. We competed all over the East Coast, it was a blast!
I found hipline when I started my first Design Job and needed an outlet. It was exactly what I needed and one of the owners asked if I was interested to teach. I've been teaching there since 2009 and am still going strong. It's a wonderful community of women. Now we're virtual and reaching clients all over.
Anj: What does a typical [pandemic] day look like for you? How does it differ from your rhythm before COVID?
Dev: I've been practicing being kinder to myself lately. Both me and my husband work full time and so having the girls at home is a challenge. Some days we are amazed by how smooth it went and then there are others where if the girls are clean and bellies are full, it's a total win.
Now that we're on month 8 our rhythm before covid felt more chaotic to be honest. I felt like we were always rushing out the door while carrying so many bags. Now my husband and I try to have coffee together, if he has a break from his meeting, and we sit with Quinn before school to see what she has to do for the day. Rowan's preschool closed down but we were able to find a wonderful speech therapist for her and she has an Adventure Pod we go to two times a week.
The one thing we really try to do is go outside once a day. Have some magic in their childhood no matter how small. It could be just going up for a hike by our home and picking up leaves, riding our bikes, or watching the sunset from our window. Seeing how the girls' react to these adventures we have is pure magic.
Anj: When you get creatively blocked or burnt out, how do you reset? Do you have tips you can share?
Dev: I go outside. I go out for a hike or go to the beach. Even if it's 15 minutes, something about grounding yourself in Nature is really healing. I also do exercise where I doodle for two minutes because it feels doable. Judgment-free doodles, always opens the doorway to more.
Anj: I know firsthand that community-building is huge for you. Tell us more about what your support system and creative community looks like.
Dev: I feel a lot of love and strength when I think of my community. My relationship with my sister led the way what women supporting women looks like. It's listening, asking questions, remembering, cheering for all the wins, being there even if it's hard, and taking time to invest in them. The way me and my sister show up for each other is why I have these amazing women in my life. I can talk to them about my family, motherhood, and we're all trying to balance it all while sharing my most recent project. I feel really blessed especially looking back in my college years where I don't know where Art would take me.
Anj: When you need to give yourself a pep talk, what does it sound like?
Dev: I usually take a deep breath then say or think "One step forward". Most of the time, I'm scared (as shit) but the thought of not trying scares me more. That one step forward can be hard as hell and maybe even heartbreaking, but I have to try.
For more on this brilliant artist, mother and friend, follow Dev @_heyrana on Instagram and check out (and buy!) her artwork here.