Want to get an effective leg workout at home, but don’t have any equipment? No sweat — if you’re ready to work out, you already have everything you need to perform these bodyweight exercises for legs. “Bodyweight exercises are a great way to build strength,” says Morgan Ford, RYT, and ACE-certified CPT. If you’re skeptical, she says, […]
Want to learn a skill that burns a ton of calories and improves your balance, power, flexibility, speed, strength — and could even save your life? You need to learn how to kick. Knockouts are typically associated with punching, but kicking packs inherently more power, making it potentially more devastating in a fight… assuming, of […]
There are different types of gymtimidation. You’re probably aware of the most significant one: feeling like you don’t know what you’re doing and don’t fit in with the people who do. But it can also be quite intimidating to rep out awkward exercises like the fire hydrant or donkey kick where everyone can see you like there’s […]
Want to step up your leg workouts at home but don’t have the space (or budget) for bulky machines? Resistance band exercises for your legs might be the quick fix that you’re looking for! They can help work different parts of your leg that you might’ve been neglecting and can deliver surprisingly impressive results. So […]
When you need a do-anywhere full-body move that jacks up your heart rate after just a few reps, look no further than the burpee. “The burpee is one of the most challenging and effective total-body exercises you can do,” says Trevor Thieme, C.S.C.S., BODi’s executive director of fitness and nutrition content. This challenging exercise is a mainstay in […]
If you want to boost total-body power, strengthen your backside, or combine cardio with weights, the dumbbell skier swing belongs in your fitness toolbox. Recruiting your body’s fast-twitch muscle fibers, the dumbbell skier swing is an awesome way to train the almighty hip hinge, one of the body’s most important movement patterns, says Erica Suter, C.S.C.S., a Baltimore-based […]
Although it looks like a simple move, the side leg raise packs a lot of benefits. Not only is it versatile enough to be performed anywhere — even during a Netflix binge — but it also helps “turn on” your glutes, which assist during other exercises like squats and lunges. That can also help with daily activity, especially in preventing lower […]
Looking for a way to strengthen your back, tighten your glutes, and firm up your thighs without doing a squat or picking up a dumbbell? The Pilates leg kick is your new go-to. The exercise is easy enough for beginners to master but can be intensified with a few simple modifications. And with the exception of […]
Quad stretches aren’t just for runners and people with bad knees. If you exercise your quads in any way — including squatting, lunging, and climbing stairs — good quad stretches can help correct muscle imbalances, decrease muscle tension, and improve your overall functional movement. They’re beneficial for leg workouts, runners, yoga enthusiasts, or anyone who’s quad […]
The runner’s lunge is a staple stretch for runners and sun-saluting yogis, but the move may actually be most beneficial to those who spend more time on the couch than the track or yoga mat. Among a host of other issues, excessive sitting causes tightness in the lower body. The runner’s lunge, when done properly, can […]