Trying to squeeze a workout in when you're busy can be incredibly stressful; fortunately, this workout from Lisa Corsello [1] (founder of Burn Pilates [2]) builds strength and tones your whole body in just five minutes. Have more time? Repeat the circuit two to three times for an even bigger calorie burn and a more powerful sweat sesh.
Scissor Crunches
- Curl up into a crunch with your hands supporting your head and neck.
- Lower one leg at a time as you inhale for two counts.
- Exhale for two counts to bring your leg back up.
- Alternate legs for one full minute.
- Modification: Bend your knees and put your hands behind your head.
Frog Crunches
- Curl up into a crunch with your hands supporting your head and neck. Inhale to slowly lower your legs halfway down while drawing your inner thighs together and engaging your core.
- Exhale to curl higher as you squeeze your heels together and bend your knees in toward your shoulders. Inhale to send your legs back out. Continue for one minute.
- Modification: Keep your knees bent and crunch up and down.
Sumo Squat Shoulder Combo
- Begin with your heels shoulder-width apart, toes turned out. Extend arms out to your sides at shoulder height and flip your palms up as you lower into a deep squat.
- Exhale as you stand up and come on to the balls of your feet while drawing the weights toward one another above your head. Continue for one minute.
- Modification: Slightly bend arms the entire time and stay on your heels.
Lunge Hops
- Begin win a deep lunge with your left foot forward. Inhale to lower one inch.
- Exhale as you push off your left heel to jump while you bring your right knee up.
- Modification: Keep it low impact by lowering and pulsing in the lunge instead of jumping.
Skull Crusher Ab Combo
- Begin on your back with legs and arms straight up.
- As you inhale, lower your legs halfway down while you bend your arms at the elbows. Exhale to bring your arms and legs back up.
- Modification: Bend knees into tabletop position.