Instead of a high-impact jump with your bodyweight hitting the floor repeatedly, Parsons recommends you opt for a low-impact kick that will up your heart rate while activating more of your core.
Barnes explained that this is a great alternative to lunge skips because you can still build lean muscle and burn calories — without stressing your joints. "You can turn up the intensity and calorie burn by deepening your lunge and steadily increasing your speed," she said. "This exercise will also improve flexibility in your hip flexors, hamstrings, and quadriceps while strengthening your lower back, core, and glutes."
- Step back with your left foot coming into a deep lunge, bending both knees to 90 degrees.
- Press the right heel into the ground as you push off with your left foot, kicking your left leg to touch your left toes to your right hand.
- With control, return to the lunge position. This completes one rep.
