Esmeralda Ugalde in Bathing Suit Says "Happy Monday"

Esmeralda Ugalde is thrilled winter is finally over. Ugalde shared a picture of herself posing at the beach in a purple bathing suit, soaking up the sun. "Happy Monday!!! Spring has arrived 🌷   beauty, life and love. With her comes a greater desire to enjoy the colors and natural landscapes of our 🌎 I want flowers, sun, sea, sand, clear skies, memorable sunsets, ruffled wind, smells of the present and sounds that are caress, I want to breathe ♀️ 🧘 deeply, appreciate and admire the essence of all creation," she captioned the post. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Ugalde stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

Ugalde never skips cardio sessions, which experts say is a crucial part of an overall fitness regimen. "Aerobic exercise and resistance training are the most important for heart health," says Johns Hopkins exercise physiologist Kerry J. Stewart, Ed.D. "Although flexibility doesn't contribute directly to heart health, it's nevertheless important because it provides a good foundation for performing aerobic and strength exercises more effectively."

Ugalde focuses on ab exercises to strengthen her core. "Your core works as a unit to stabilize your lower back and pelvis," says personal trainer Rachel MacPherson. "All movement originates from your core, so anything you do with your limbs, such as lifting grocery bags or throwing a ball, requires your abdominals and other core muscles to brace to keep your spine stable."

Ugalde enjoys circuit training sessions. "Circuit training may be a bit more time-efficient for exercisers who want to get a full-body workout in a relatively short period of time—say, 30 to 40 minutes", says exercise physiologist Jason Machowsky, CSCS. "Also, some people may enjoy the faster-paced nature of circuits".

Ugalde incorporates HIIT workouts into her exercise routine. "It's exercise after exercise with minimal rest," says personal trainer Stephen Navaretta, developer of The Tank Method, an exercise program based on body-weight exercises. "This gives your entire body, especially your heart and core, a great workout."

Ugalde is passionate about horses and horseback riding. "Riding a horse for 45 minutes at a walk, trot and canter can burn up to 200 calories," says Dr. Dennis Sigler, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horse specialist and professor in the department of animal science at Texas A&M University in College Station. "If you do something a bit more strenuous such as cutting or reining, that can come out to nearly seven calories per minute for the entire length of the riding period."