5 super simple workout tips from celebrity trainers

Ever wonder how Ryan Gosling got those chiselled abs or how Sofia Vergara keeps her legs toned and shapely? They enlist the help of trainers to the stars, like Ashley Borden, Harley Pasternak and Gunnar Peterson. The next time you hit the gym or roll out your mat for an at-home workout, consider these suggestions to help fire up your inner celebrity.

Tip #1: Get the right form

Squats, lunges, push-ups and planks are the oldest workout moves in the book, and for good reason – they really work. However, many people don’t do them correctly, which essentially renders them useless, Borden, who trains the likes of Gosling and Mandy Moore, said to Well+Good. She suggests reading up on the mechanics of the moves so you know what you should be feeling or consulting with a trainer to make sure you have the right form.

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Tip #2: Step away from the mirror

Borden doesn’t have any mirrors in her studio, and for good reason. “Mirrors are meant for people to correct their form, but what I’ve seen is that people don’t focus on what they’re doing right or wrong – they focus on things about their body they don’t like and what they want to fix, and that isn’t helpful,” she says. If you need to check your form, Borden suggests filming your workout (most laptops have cameras these days, so it shouldn’t be hard) and reviewing it later to make any future corrections.

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Tip #3: One side at a time

If you’re using dumbbells, work one arm or one leg at a time, Pasternak said to Fitness Magazine. It’s the same advice he imparts on his clients like Eva Mendes and Halle Berry. This way, one side of your body will rest while the other is doing all the work, and it will keep your heart rate up and burn more calories.

Tip #4: Every little bit counts

Working out a little bit frequently will pay off more than doing an all-out workout every now and again, says Peterson. The man behind the enviable bodies of Kim Kardashian and Vergara told Self that this philosophy will also extend to other aspects of your health. “It sets you up mentally to make better choices with your eating and sleeping as well, which pays huge dividends in the long term.”

Tip #5: Seriously, get in 10,000 steps a day

It may sound like an arbitrary (and high) number, but Pasternak stressed to Refinery29 that 10,000 steps should be the daily minimum. “Looking your best isn’t about what you do in the gym; it’s about what you do the other 23 hours,” he says. Try to up your daily steps by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking your car farther from your destination.