Sculpt Sexy Arms with Pilates

Summer is nearly here, the signal to shed layers and break out the tank tops. But this year you can skip the grueling tricep dips and extensions and still have Michele Obama arms: A new study on Pilates yielded an unexpected discovery: The guaranteed ab-toner is also an effective way to strengthen and sculpt your upper body -- particularly your arms.

In fact, even the researcher was a bit thrown by the results: "I was surprised that subjects improved in their push-up and flexibility as much as they did -- especially considering the routine doesn't really focus on that aspect. This means that a defined core should be paired with great looking arms. Pilates delivers," said June Kloubec, a researcher at the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Science at Bastyr University in Kenmore, Wash.

The study had 50 middle-aged men and women do an hour of traditional Pilates moves twice a week for 12 weeks. Then they did push ups to measure strength. They began the study doing 24 push ups on their knees and ended up being able to do 35. (The control group began with 20.5 and ended with 21.) "I think the arm strength was increased because the core strength was increased," said Kloubec. "If you can stabilize your core during push-ups you will be able to do more of them. A stronger core allows more of your arm muscles to do the work."

What the study also found is that you don't have to sweat bullets and be super coordinated -- like you would with say stability training -- to get results. These were simple low-intensity moves that don't require equipment or a high degree of skill. So switch up your dumbbells for a mat and get sexy arms (along with a gorgeous, flat tummy) with these traditional Pilates workouts:

How to Get Pilates Abs
Get a Bikini Body in 4 Weeks
The New Pilates Body

Over forty? Pilates can also be a fountain of youth.