Resistance training is a great way to build muscle, but it’s also important to work on your cardiovascular fitness by choosing routines that get your heart rate up, even for a short amount of time.Â
That doesn’t mean you need to head to the gym for hours-long sessions on the treadmill, as there are equipment-free methods to boost your metabolism and build strength all over, like this personal trainer’s short routine.Â
This bodyweight workout comes from Stef Williams (opens in new tab), the founder of fitness app WeGlow (opens in new tab), and is ideal for home workouts. With only four moves and no equipment, this session is proof that you don’t need time or fancy kit to get started.
You’ll do each move for 45 seconds, take a 15-second rest, then start the next exercise. Repeat this circuit four times for a time-efficient, muscle-building workout you can do when you’re short on time.Â
Watch Stef Williams’ full-body workout
It’s a succinct routine, but that doesn’t means its any less effective. If you’re looking to exercise for happiness (opens in new tab), you’ll walk away from this session with an elevated mood and tired muscles, which makes it great for lunch breaks or early starts.Â
Williams’ bodyweight routine also works well as a finisher after a strength session, especially a leg-focussed workout. So, pair it with this 35-minute glute-focused session (opens in new tab) for maximum gains.
If you want to increase the difficulty of this workout, you could add ankle weights, which will also help you strengthen your lower-body. There are also plenty of ways to modify this routine and lower the impact.
For a start, try the plank (opens in new tab) walkout without the mountain climbers, simply walking your arms out into a plank and back to standing. You can also do the squats (opens in new tab) and lunges without jumping, which is still a great way to strengthen the lower body.Â
The day after your workout, you’ll likely feel the effects of delayed-onset muscle…
Read the full article here