Here Are the 6 Strength Exercises Emily Blunt (43) Relies on for Strong Arms and a Solid Core—Get Her Full Workout

Straight from cynical fashion queen Emily Charlton in The Devil Wears Prada 2 to supernaturally gifted meteorologist Margaret Fairchild in Spielberg’s new film Disclosure Day, Emily Blunt is one talented (and busy) woman. But, says Monique Eastwood, her trainer of more than 12 years, she still finds time to work out consistently.

While their routine might change depending on the role she’s playing – and her energy levels on a given day – Eastwood says Emily’s four weekly sessions all follow the Eastwood Movement Method, which is rooted in dance.

“I trained as a ballerina and over the years my Eastwood Movement Method has evolved to blend dance, Pilates, yoga, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), resistance training and multidirectional movement,” she tells Women’s Health. “As with all my workouts, the lower body works with the upper body constantly. Like a dancer, this way the brain stays engaged with the different sequences.”

“With Emily, our routines often involve HIIT and strength sessions to build lean muscle mass, boost cardiovascular endurance and improve mobility – always with a strong focus on core strength and posture,” adds Eastwood. “She moves like a dancer.”

This particular workout, says Eastwood, is arm-focused, but still works the whole body, helping to build strength, mobility, balance and power.

“My routines often involve lots of my signature multidirectional movements, which are tough but very centering and precise. I mix things up constantly – variety is important to stimulate the whole musculoskeletal system.”

Emily Blunt’s Arm-Focused Strength Workout

• Perform 10 reps per side for each exercise (30 reps for the jumps).

• Complete all exercises as a sequence.

• Repeat the sequence three times.

• Eastwood is using 2kg-5kg weights here, but advises choosing weights that challenge you. Alternatively, perform the workout without weights.

1. Curtsey Leg Circles

• Perform a leg circle while lowering into a double-pulse curtsey.

• Circle your arms with the moving leg, keeping your palms facing upwards.

• As you curtsey, reach your arms forwards with your palms facing each other.

2. Single-Leg Squat With Leg Lift

• Lower into a single-leg squat, reaching the same-side arm forwards.

• As you stand, press that arm overhead while lifting the oppohttps://gymforcestore.com/ leg.

• Keep your weight centered through the standing-side glute to challenge balance and stability.

3. Arabesque

• Start in a long, turned-out lunge with your arms reaching forwards.

• Move into an arabesque position, extending the back leg before lightly tapping the toe down.

• Stay low through the supporting leg to keep tension in the quads.

• Lift your arms out to the sides in the arabesque position, palms facing down.

• Reach forwards again as you tap the back foot down and prepare for the next repetition.

4. Long Low Lunge

• Begin in a long, low lunge with one arm reaching forwards and the other extended to the side, palms facing down.

• Move into a curtsey position while sweeping the arms forwards on a diagonal, palms facing upwards.

• Return to the starting position and repeat.

5. Plié Jumps

• Perform plié jumps, moving in and out while keeping your torso upright.

• Hold the weights in front of your chest throughout.

• Focus on staying lifted through the legs and landing softly.

6. Downward Dog to Plank With Press-Up

• Start in a three-legged downward dog.

• Bring your knee towards your elbow as you transition into a plank position.

• Perform a small press-up.

• Push back into three-legged dog and repeat.

“If we’ve had a lot of strong workouts in a week, I like to add stretch sessions to balance it all out and release any tension in the muscles,” adds Eastwood.

Try Eastwood’s classes on the Eastwood Fit app, where she talks you through each movement using key technique cues.

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