P90X’s Tony Horton says this workout will boost your balance and flexibility

It might take you a few weeks to work up to all the moves in this new workout from Tony Horton, the creator of P90X and author of “The Big Picture: 11 Laws That Will Change Your Life.�

It’s not because the moves are so tough but because they will tax your balance and flexibility — and that’s exactly why Horton wants you to work on them. Balance and flexibility are key to a well-rounded workout regimen but are too often overlooked, he says.

What it is

This is a full-body circuit of three moves that hit the upper body, lower body and core, and also work on your balance and flexibility. You’ll want to watch the accompanying video online because some of these moves can be tricky.

What to do

Push-ups with side arm balance. Assume the traditional push-up position, but place your feet about shoulder width apart. Do a push-up or lower the body as far as it can go. Then engage the core and shift the lower body so that it’s balancing on the inside edge of your left foot and the outside edge of the right foot. Then stretch the left hand up toward the ceiling. (Key to this move is making sure your right wrist is directly under your shoulders as you shift your weight, otherwise you risk a shoulder injury.) Hold the balance for a few seconds before returning to the starting position, and repeat on the other side. Aim for 10 to 12 repetitions.

Downward dog crunches. Begin with the traditional downward dog stance. Engage the core and begin to shift your weight forward, as if you are moving into a plank position, while also bringing your right knee in the direction of your elbow (or your triceps). You probably won’t actually make contact with your elbow — at least not in the beginning. That’s fine, because you’re getting a great core workout. Aim for 10 to 12 reps on each side.

Side shuffle/side hop. Pretend there’s an imaginary line running parallel to your feet. Start by quickly stepping over it, lifting the knees a bit, as you go. Make it harder by picking up the pace and adding a little bounce. Aim for 50 to 80 reps. You can make it even harder by tossing in explosive, high-knee, side-to-side hops.

How many

Put it all together in a circuit by doing three to five rounds, as often as three to four times a week.

[email protected]

MORE WORKOUTS TO TRY

Biceps curls combined with lunges build your balance too

‘The Parallel’ is a dance move that will push your thighs to the limit

Tony Horton shares a circuit to charge up the body and mind too