Tone it Up Founders Karena Dawn and Katrina Scott bring their workout to the beach
Karena Dawn and Katrina Scott met the way many fitness-minded BFFs do—while working out. The duo have spearheaded an inspiring community of people looking for workout role models to remind them that fitness is fun, something that these two SoCal residents do in style. We asked them to share some of their tips for integrating activity into everyday life, as well as some of their signature cross-training moves to practice on beach days and beyond.
LA YOGA: What are some suggestions to integrate fitness into daily life and a busy schedule?
Katrina Scott: Preparation is key. I like to lay out my workout clothes the night before, and have my water bottle ready and my workout gear in place so that all I have to do is jump out of bed and workout. Karena has even been known to wear her workout clothes to bed when she has an early yoga class.
LA YOGA: What are some of the benefits of taking your workout to the beach?
Karena Dawn: Working out in the sand adds an extra balancing factor to each move or pose because the sand is constantly moving. This causes you to engage your core and increase the toning of your abdominal muscles. It also ups the intensity of your workouts, raises your heart rate, and increases your ability to burn calories all day long. Bonus, you’re working out in nature and feeling the sand on your toes!
LA YOGA: What are some ways to get started on a fitness program?
Katrina Scott: We recommend finding an accountability partner. When you first start a fitness routine, it’s important to know that someone has your back and is helping you stay on track. Some mornings I don’t feel like hitting up that early yoga class, but since I know Karena is there waiting for me, I hop out of bed and get to it! Plus, it makes the workout more fun when you’re with a friend. We’re all about social fitness! We like to grab a juice or coffee post workout to catch up too. You can also have online accountability partners by checking in with your progress and workouts with the hashtag #TIUteam on Instagram. We’ve seen so many new friendships flourish with the Tone It Up community.
LA YOGA: What would be some cross-training moves to compare with a yoga practice?
Karena Dawn: Forward lunges and single leg deadlifts are great for toning your quads and booty while also working on your balance and core strength. I also love adding in plank variations, like plank + row, to sculpt my core, shoulders, and back.
Tone it Up Founders Karena Dawn and Katrina Scott workout on the beach.
The Tone It Up Cross-Training Beach Workout
Complete three rounds of each exercise.
Single Leg Deadlift
Sculpts your booty and hamstrings while strengthening your core.
Begin standing with your weight shifted into your right leg with a slight bend at the knee and dumbbells held in front of your hips. Hinge forward at the hips as you lower the dumbbells toward the ground. Make sure that you keep your hips squared and core engaged. Use your booty to pull yourself back up to standing. Complete 15 reps on each side.
V-Sit + Bicep Curl
Tones your lower abs and biceps.
Begin in a v-sit while holding the weights with both hands by your chest. Extend your legs out and your back down so that your shoulders and feet are hovering a few inches off the ground. At the same time, extend the weights down by your hips. Crunch back to a v-sit and curl the weights back to your chest. Complete 20 reps.
Plank + Row
Tones your core, shoulders, and back.
Begin in a plank position with a dumbbell in your right hand. Keep your hips squared as you lift your right hand off the ground and bend your elbow back, making sure to keep your arm close to your side. Slowly lower back to start. Complete 15 reps, then switch sides.
Follow Karena Dawn and Katrina Scott on Instagram at @toneitup and learn more about their workouts, bikini series, fitness suggestions, and more at: toneitup.com
Felicia Tomasko has spent more of her life practicing Yoga and Ayurveda than not. She first became introduced to the teachings through the writings of the Transcendentalists, through meditation, and using asana to cross-train for her practice of cross-country running. Between beginning her commitment to Yoga and Ayurveda and today, she earned degrees in environmental biology and anthropology and nursing, and certifications in the practice and teaching of yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda while working in fields including cognitive neuroscience and plant biochemistry. Her commitment to writing is at least as long as her commitment to yoga. Working on everything related to the written word from newspapers to magazines to websites to books, Felicia has been writing and editing professionally since college. In order to feel like a teenager again, Felicia has pulled out her running shoes for regular interval sessions throughout Southern California. Since the very first issue of LA YOGA, Felicia has been part of the team and the growth and development of the Bliss Network.