Sam Hopes
Sam Hopes is a level 3 fitness trainer, 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, Sam now primarily teaches outdoor bootcamps, bodyweight and 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 is currently in training for her next mixed doubles Hyrox competition in London this year, having completed her first doubles attempt in 1:11.
In her spare time, she enjoys CrossFit, 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 fitness technology and wearables, anything yoga and CrossFit-related, and has a keen interest in nutrition, sleep, and recovery.
Latest articles by Sam Hopes
Forget the gym — this 30-minute walking workout builds mental strength and boosts your metabolism
By Sam Hopes last updated
This 30-minute walking workout could boost metabolism, build mental strength and improve cardiovascular fitness. Here's how to walk with Goop.
Hip pain? Build lower body strength and boost flexibility with 3 moves and 15 minutes
By Sam Hopes last updated
Build lower body strength and boost flexibility without weights using three exercises in just 15 minutes.
I did 5-minute starburst planks every day for one week — here’s what happened
By Sam Hopes last updated
Starburst planks are a side plank variation that builds full-body strength and targets the obliques, hips and glutes. Our fitness writer performed them for five minutes every day.
You don't need the gym to build muscle — try this outdoor 15-minute dumbbell workout instead
By Sam Hopes last updated
This 15-minute outdoor workout raises your heart rate and targets your entire body using a set of dumbbells to help build muscle and improve endurance.
Forget weights — this 30-minute yoga routine builds flexibility and strengthens your core
By Sam Hopes published
This short 30-minute yoga routine by Move With Nicole builds flexibility, strengthens your core, and boosts mindfulness.
I’m a personal trainer — 5 compound exercises that build a strong core without weights
By Sam Hopes last updated
These five compound exercises build stronger core muscles without sit-ups, crunches, or lifting heavy weights, according to a personal trainer.
Forget pull-ups — you just need a set of dumbbells and 5 exercises to build your back and biceps
By Sam Hopes last updated
Build stronger back and biceps muscles with these five dumbbell exercises. Here's how to do them, according to a personal trainer.
You don’t need planks or crunches to build core muscle — use this 3-move kettlebell abs workout
By Sam Hopes last updated
You don't need crunches or planks to build strong core muscles, this three-move kettlebell abs workout only takes 15 minutes.
I tried 60 minutes of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the first time — here’s what happened to my body
By Sam Hopes last updated
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a rehabilitation method that increases oxygen intake in a pressurized chamber to boost energy, exercise recovery and reduce fatigue.
How much protein do you need to build muscle?
By Sam Hopes published
What is protein, how much protein do you need to build muscle, and when should you eat protein? One personal trainer explains what you need to know.
I just tried two minutes of cryotherapy for the first time — here's what happened to my body
By Sam Hopes last updated
Cryotherapy is a rehabilitation method using extreme cold application to boost mood and energy, reduce fatigue, pain, and inflammation and improve exercise recovery.
Forget barbells — sculpt your core and lower body with this 5-move kettlebell workout
By Sam Hopes last updated
This five-move kettlebell workout takes 25 minutes, builds muscles in your legs and glutes, and strengthens your core. Our in-house personal trainer explains how to do it.
I did 7-minute abs wheel planks every day for a week — here’s what happened to my body
By Sam Hopes last updated
I tried doing seven-minute abs wheel planks every day for a week. Here are the results and the benefits of doing abs wheel planks for your core muscles.
This 3-move dumbbell abs workout builds core strength and full-body muscle and only takes 15 minutes
By Sam Hopes last updated
This 15-minute dumbbell workout strengthens your core muscles and builds full-body strength with just three exercises and a set of weights.
I just tried the SLBR exercise for the first time — here's what happened to my body
By Sam Hopes last updated
Learn how to do the SLBR exercise, the benefits, common mistakes, and what happened I added it to my workout routine.
What is yin yoga? Everything you need to know
By Sam Hopes published
What is yin yoga, what are the benefits, and how do you do a yin yoga class?
Develop lower body flexibility and build ankle strength with this one bodyweight exercise
By Sam Hopes last updated
The loaded beast exercise is a squat variation that targets your legs, glutes, core and upper body while building lower body flexibility. Here's how to do it and the benefits.
Develop healthy hips and strengthen your lower body with this 3-move stretching routine
By Sam Hopes last updated
These three bodyweight exercises develop flexibility, mobility and range of motion and help strengthen your hips, quads, glutes and hamstrings. Here's how to do the routine.
I did 70 reps of man makers every day for one week — here’s what happened
By Sam Hopes last updated
What are man makers, what are the benefits of the dumbbell exercise, and what happens when one writer does 70 reps a day for one week?
I'm a personal trainer — this one-minute stretch opens your shoulders and builds upper body flexibility
By Sam Hopes last updated
The laying shoulder stretch targets the pectorals, triceps and anterior deltoids in the upper body. A personal trainer explains how to do it and the benefits.
Fast-twitch vs slow-twitch muscle fibers: What are the different muscle fiber types?
By Sam Hopes published
What are slow-twitch muscle fibers and fast-twitch muscle fibers, how do you train your muscle fiber types, and what are the benefits?
I teach weightlifting for a living — this compound exercise builds full-body strength with dumbbells
By Sam Hopes published
The squat clean builds full-body strength, muscle and power and develops your functional fitness. Here's how to do it, the benefits and variations to try.
I'm a personal trainer — this 3-move foam roller routine reduces back stiffness in just 10 minutes
By Sam Hopes last updated
Foam rolling can help reduce muscular pain and stiffness associated with sedentary lifestyles or workout soreness. Here are three doctor-approved foam rolling exercises to try.
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