A Trainer Reveals the 1 Thing You Should Do Before Every Workout

When POPSUGAR sat down with Jeff Carlson, a Barry's Bootcamp and SoulCycle trainer from southern California, we asked, "What's the one move you always turn to in your workouts?" And we were shocked when he didn't say planks, squats, or even bicep curls (because to be honest, it looks like all of the above). His go-to? Intention.

"I have a slew of habits and patterns that make me successful," said Carlson. "The only thing I can really say I do before I do anything is figure out why I'm doing it — to set an intention."

This is the most important thing you can do before you start your workout, according to Carlson. "Make sure you know what you want before you start moving," he said. "Whether it's a tight butt or just a better mood — it literally doesn't matter. Just set an intention."

He shared that by doing so, he's able to push through more strenuous, difficult moments of his workouts. "Goal setting, for me, is most important when I'm feeling challenged in class, whether it's SoulCycle, Barry's, or the gym." This, in turn, leads to more consistency, stronger workouts, and reaching goals more than ever.

Ready to crush your own goals? Set your intention, large or small, and then get to work while remembering your "why."