
Sam Hopes
Sam Hopes is a level 3 qualified fitness instructor, level 2 reiki practitioner and senior fitness writer at Tom's Guide. She is also currently undertaking her Yoga For Athletes training course. Sam has written for various fitness brands and websites over the years and has experience across brands at Future such as Live Science, Fit&Well, Coach, and T3.
Having worked with fitness studios like F45 and Virgin Active, Sam now primarily teaches outdoor bootcamps, bodyweight, calisthenics and kettlebells. She also coaches mobility and stretching-focused classes several times a week and believes that true strength comes from a holistic approach to training your body.
Sam has completed two mixed doubles Hyrox competitions in London and the Netherlands and finished her first doubles attempt in 1:11.
In her spare time, she enjoys CrossFit, hot yoga, and running and can be found perfecting her handstand walks and handstand push-ups in the gym whenever she has the chance to be upside down. At work, she can be found testing the latest in fitness technology and wearables, anything yoga and CrossFit-related and has a keen interest in nutrition, sleep and recovery.
Latest articles by Sam Hopes

I’m a personal trainer — this 5-move workout builds full-body strength and muscle with just a set of dumbbells
By Sam Hopes published
Personal trainer shares a five-move dumbbell workout to build full-body strength and muscle wherever you are.

Huge Black Friday cycling gear sale — 11 deals from Giro, Peloton and Shimano starting from just $11
By Sam Hopes published
Amazon could save you money on a selection of cycling gear and accessories ahead of Black Friday, including popular brands like Rapha and Peloton.

Who needs weights? This Pilates abs workout strengthens your back, core and arms in 10 minutes
By Sam Hopes published
Feature This Pilates ab workout takes 10 minutes to strengthen your core, arms and back muscles without weights.

I'm a personal trainer — this one bodyweight exercise can strengthen your hips and boost lower body flexibility
By Sam Hopes last updated
The supported runner's lunge targets your hips, quads, glutes, and ankles and builds lower body flexibility. Here's how to do it and the benefits.

I tried the Pilates ‘rollover’ exercise to strengthen my abs and spine without weights — here’s what happened to my body
By Sam Hopes published
Here are the benefits of the Pilates 'rollover' exercise, and how it can improve spine mobility and build stronger abs.

Amazon's early Black Friday Under Armour sale is live — 11 deals I’d snag on apparel right now from just $10
By Sam Hopes published
Save during Black Friday sales on Under Armour fitness apparel.

No, not leg raises — here's the one abs exercise you should do to strengthen your deep core without weights
By Sam Hopes published
Double deadbugs are a bodyweight exercise for strengthening your abs, hips and deep core without hurting your spine. Here's how to do them step-by-step.

Study suggests you may need more protein after cardio than you think — here’s the real number
By Sam Hopes published
Research suggests this is how much protein you really need after cardio to fuel recovery.

This 15-minute yoga routine boosts flexibility and stretches your entire body — so I tried it, and here's my verdict
By Sam Hopes last updated
This 15-minute ‘gentle yoga’ routine boosts flexibility and reduces stress — here’s how to do it to stretch and strengthen your entire body.

Strength and conditioning coach shares 4 exercises to strengthen your upper body and boost mobility with a resistance band
By Sam Hopes last updated
This four-move mobility workout strengthens your upper body and improves shoulder health.

No push-ups? Try the dolphin press to strengthen your chest, core and shoulders instead
By Sam Hopes published
Need help with push-ups? Try the dolphin press and watch your upper body strength transform.

How to master the jerk the right way, according to a CrossFit coach
By Sam Hopes published
Learn how to jerk, push jerk, and split jerk using this step-by-step guide on technique, weights, and more. According to a qualified CrossFit coach.

Concentric vs eccentric movement: which is better for muscle growth?
By Sam Hopes published
Should you focus on concentric or eccentric loading to build muscle and strength? We cover the benefits of both and how to prioritize them.

Oura Ring vs. Ultrahuman Ring Air — which smart ring should you buy?
By Jane McGuire last updated
Which is the best fitness tracker ring? We put the Ultrahuman Ring Air and Oura Ring 4 head-to-head.

I did the 12-3-30 treadmill workout for a month — here's my results
By Jane McGuire last updated
What is the 12-3-30 treadmill workout, how do you do it, and what happens when you do it for a month? We put it to the test, and here's how it went.

Bored of stretching? You just need this one exercise and a resistance band to strengthen your hips, glutes and hamstrings
By Sam Hopes last updated
You just need this one exercise and a resistance band to stretch and strengthen your hips without weights. Here's how to do the psoas march.

Mobility expert shares the 3 exercises you need to strengthen your hips and reduce lower body tension with just a foam roller
By Sam Hopes last updated
A mobility coach shares the three exercises you need to build strong hips and reduce lower body tension using a foam roller.

Chiropractor shares the one move you need to unlock tight shoulders and relieve upper body tension, and I've tried it
By Sam Hopes last updated
I'm a personal trainer, and this is the one exercise I use to unlock my upper back and reduce shoulder tension with a kettlebell.

I'm following this 3-week 'Live Below Parallel' routine to boost lower-body mobility — here are my results so far
By Sam Hopes last updated
I'm following this three-week 'Live Below Parallel' lower-body mobility routine to boost hip flexibility and improve squat depth — here are my results so far.

Fitness expert shares the best hip thrust exercise for sculpting stronger glutes — no weights required
By Sam Hopes last updated
Glute ‘expert’ shares the best hip thrust alternative for sculpting stronger glutes with or without weights.

I’ve been using the Moonbird breathing coach device to build mental strength — here’s my verdict
By Sam Hopes published
We tested the Moonbird breathing coach device to see if it could improve mood and sleep hygiene and reduce stress. Here's what happened.

Who needs leg raises? Try this lower abs exercise to strengthen your core and hips instead
By Sam Hopes published
The in-and-out abs exercise builds stronger core muscles and hips without using weights. Here's how to do it.

Metabolic Resistance Training: what is it, and how can it help you burn fat and build muscle?
By Sam Hopes published
Metabolic Resistance Training combines strength training and fat-burning cardio to help you build strength and muscle, burn calories and boost your metabolism. Here's how.

Standard lunges aren't the only bodyweight exercise you should do to build leg strength — try box pistol squats instead
By Sam Hopes published
The box pistol squat is a great bodyweight lunge alternative for building lower body strength, power and mobility. A personal trainer explains how to do it.
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