Fitness

The 12 Best At-Home Workouts You Can Do Without Any Equipment 

You can get results with just your bodyweight.
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Katie Thompson

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The best at-home workouts don’t necessarily require a ton of equipment—or any equipment—other than your own bodyweight. That’s good news for many exercisers who may not have dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, or other equipment at home, especially after the closures of gyms and fitness studios (and the recommendations to practice social distancing) due to the new coronavirus.

If you don’t have a lot of equipment, at-home bodyweight workouts are clutch and allow you to keep up your fitness routine. You might think your options are limited if you don’t have a whole rack of equipment at your disposal, but that’s definitely not the case. You can use bodyweight exercises to work nearly every muscle in your body, from your quads (squats) to your butt (glute bridges, anyone?) to your chest (yes, you can do a push-up!) to your core (plank variations for the win!).

They’re not just great for building strength, though: Bodyweight workouts can double as a cardio routine, especially when you choose moves that are easy to ramp up in intensity and perform them in such a way—usually circuit-style, with limited rest—that challenges you cardiovascularly.

Plus, there are a ton of bodyweight exercises out there, meaning the possibilities for bodyweight workouts are nearly endless, and we’ve rounded up a bunch of them for you here. Want to really home in on your lower body? Workout #1 may be for you. Looking to get just as sweaty as when you run? Try #6. And if you’re looking for a way to strengthen your shoulders and arms, #11 may be one to try.

Whatever your intended goal of the workout, the list below of the best at-home workouts that require only your bodyweight has you covered. Try a bunch of these workouts from SELF to figure out your favorites!

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    Katie Thompson

    A Lower-Body Workout With Cardio Burnout

    This isn’t your regular old leg workout—there are a few exercises in here that we bet you haven’t tried yet, like the runner’s-lunge-to-balance (great for speed and agility) and the corkscrew (a dynamic plank variation that’ll seriously test your core strength). Created by Amy Eisinger, C.P.T., this workout will test your endurance all the way through. And then just when you think you’re done, there’s a cardio burnout at the end that’ll give you one last challenge. You can make it easier or harder by tweaking the amount of rest you take between exercises in the circuit.

    Try the workout.

  • Katie Thompson

    A 20-Minute HIIT Workout That’s Kinder on Your Joints

    Lots of at-home HIIT workouts are chock-full of plyometric moves (read “lots of jumping”), which is great for some people, but not the best choice for those who may have some problems with their joints. This HIIT workout, which was created by Equinox group fitness instructor Colleen Conlon, is kinder on the joints than most HIIT workouts, since it includes lower-impact moves like side kick throughs and crab toe touches. There still are some moves that are a little higher impact, like skater hops, so if you’re not sure if this workout would be safe for you, talk to your doctor or physical therapist first.

    Try the workout.

  • Katie Thompson

    A Full-Body Cardio Challenge

    Want an at-home cardio workout that works your whole body? Then you’ll have to give this routine, created by Eisinger, a try. The circuit will cycle through five moves, which work everything from your legs (squat pulse), core (tuck-up), and shoulders (frogger). Once you complete the circuit for your chosen number of rounds, you’ll finish with a AMRAP (as many reps as possible) finisher.

    Try the workout.

  • Katie Thompson

    A Plank-Based Workout to Light Up Your Core

    Yes, you can work your arms with just your bodyweight. And a great way to do that is through variations of the plank, where your shoulders and triceps really put in the work. Created by certified trainer Lita Lewis, this workout will start with skaters to get your blood pumping, and then take you to the floor for the next three plank-based moves: push-up, shoulder tap, and plank forearm reach. The second circuit is heavy on the plank variations too, with the plank jack and forearm plank. You’ll be tasked with holding the plank for a good chunk of time with these moves (since they’re back-to-back-to-back), so if it’s too hard to maintain with good form, drop to your knees to make it a bit easier.

    Try the workout.

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  • Katie Thompson

    There Are No Burpees or Mountain Climbers in This Routine

    Not a fan of burpees or mountain climbers? Then this HIIT workout is the routine for you. Created by Conlon, this total-body bodyweight workout gets you moving in multiple planes of motion to work all your different muscle groups. The exercises she chose—moves like the lateral shuffle and explosive crab reach—allow you to move at a pace where you can really ramp up the intensity, which is vital for HIIT workouts. Hint: Try performing each move 10 times on its own at a comfortable intensity before moving into the workout, so you are familiar with any new exercises.

    Try the workout.

  • Katie Thompson

    A 4-Move 30-Minute Cardio Workout

    With this full-body at-home cardio workout, which was created by Eisinger, the goal is to move through three moves—froggers, bird-dog crunches, and a three-point toe touch—as quickly as possible. This 30-minute workout doubles as a cardio routine (no running required), so give it a shot if you are looking to get sweaty. You can choose rest-work periods based off your fitness level, so it’s a great workout for those who are just getting started.

    Try the workout.

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  • An Abs Workout That’s Done in 8 Minutes

    The good thing about abs workouts is that they’re pretty easy to do at home without any equipment. The not-so-good part? Abs workouts can be superhard, which is why we’re all for one that’s over in eight minutes. With this at-home workout, which was created by Amy Marturana Winderl, C.P.T., you’ll spend 30 seconds on five separate exercises, including dead bug, forearm plank rock, and plank up-down, taking no rest between the moves until the circuit is complete. After three rounds, your abs will definitely be burning.

    Try the workout.

  • Katie Thompson

    A 5-Minute Plank Workout That Challenges More Than Your Core

    Planks are known for working your abs, but if you do them right, you’ll seriously challenge your shoulders, legs, and butt too. Created by Marturana Winderl, this bodyweight workout uses five variations of the plank, including plank up-downs (which light up your shoulders and triceps) and plank jacks (to give a cardio element). Check out these tips to make a plank more effective before you get started, so you can make sure you are making the most of every exercise.

    Try the workout.

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  • Katie Thompson

    The 4-Move Bodyweight Workout That’ll Seriously Work Your Butt

    Sure, there are some kinds of equipment that work really well for butt exercises—we’re looking at you, mini-bands—but you actually don’t need anything at all (besides your bodyweight) to get your glutes working. This four-move workout, which was created by Cori Lefkowith, NASM-certified personal trainer and owner of Redefining Strength in Costa Mesa, California, proves you don’t need any equipment for a good butt workout. Moves like frog bridges and straight-leg fire hydrant ensure you are working your gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus.

    Try the workout.

  • Katie Thompson

    A 3-Move Cardio Workout for Beginners

    There are only three simple moves in this workout created by Eisinger—the skater, three-point toe touch, and flutter kick—but it’s a great way for you to get the moves down and ease into at-home workouts. If you’re just getting started, try each move for 30 seconds with 30 seconds of rest. As you get more comfortable with exercising, you can increase your work time and decrease your rest for more of a cardio challenge.

    Try the workout.

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  • Katie Thompson

    A Core Workout That’s Great for Your Arms

    This workout, created by TruFusion trainer Alyssa West, primarily works your core, but thanks to exercises like the push-up, plank-to-dolphin, and diamond push-up, your arms will get a serious workout too. There are nine exercises in the workout, which seems like a lot, but it only takes 15 minutes to finish. Your shoulders and triceps will totally be feeling it by the time you’re done.

    Try the workout.

  • Katie Thompson

    A 10-Minute Pilates Workout for Your Butt and Core

    To really home in on specific muscles, sometimes small, controlled movements are key. That’s one of the biggest benefits of Pilates-based workouts, and this routine, which was created by Manuela Sanchez, certified Pilates instructor at Club Pilates in Brooklyn, uses that to its full advantage. You can do this circuit once or twice as its own workout, but it’s also great to really get your glutes muscles warmed up for a more leg-intensive workout.

    Try the workout.

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Christa Sgobba is an ACE-certified personal trainer, writer, and editor who joined SELF in 2019 and is now SELF's director of fitness and food. She graduated from Wilkes University and earned a certificate from New York University's Publishing Institute. Christa has worked in the wellness space for over a dozen ... Read More

SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.

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