Work It! Tricep dips

Tips from Ann Smink (pictured), fitness specialist How to do it • Lower down to the ground and position yourself with the suitcase directly behind you and your hands pressing on the hard edge of the suitcase. • Your fingertips should be facing your hips and your hips slightly forward from the suitcase, feet flat on the ground. • With your shoulders back and down, and elbows back, lower down to where your arms make a right angle at the elbow. • Make sure arms are doing the work and not your legs. Do three sets of 12 reps. Benefits Tricep dips target the triceps, or muscles on the back of the upper arms. Work It! features a new exercise each week with guidance from a fitness professional at the Fitness Center at University Hospitals Avon Health Center. This nine-week series was created by Ann Smink, a fitness specialist who has a bachelor's degree in exercise science. The mother of two is also a flight attendant and was inspired to develop these strength exercises featuring an everyday roller suitcase as the main prop. "Traveling can be physically demanding and requires proper strength to prevent injuries from lifting bags, carrying bags, and even walking through the airport with extra weight," she says. "These exercises are designed to help strengthen the specific muscle groups used while traveling with simply a piece of luggage." You can pack your bag to customize the right weight for each exercise. Work out with this series to make sure you're ready for your trip! For more information, call program manager Renee Barrett at (440) 988-6822.