Legs are relatively easy to tone and strengthen! Unlike abdominals that require an extensive diet overall and constant work, legs are more forgiving. This is an quick leg workout at home series you can do anywhere. If not easy (it burns a bit), it’s quick! I like to do it while I’m on vacation or can’t get to my regular workout, which during quarantine, has been often.
How to do quick leg workout at home:
- Grab a high chair, kitchen counter, balcony rail. Bring your toes and ankles together, drop your seat, squeeze your bum.
- Rise up to the tips of your toes and straighten your knees as much as possible. Roll down with control. Repeat for 3 sets of 8.
- Next, sit back while holding on to counter and alternate feet rolling up to a half demi pointe (or “stiletto”). Make sure you’re nice and low and do for 3 sets of 8.
- With any foot, keep demi-pointe up, while you pulse for 3 sets of 8. Switch feet and repeat for 3 sets of 8.
- Finish off by rolling up to both feet up in your highest heels and pulse with tiny quick movements for 3 sets of 8.
- Do at HIIT workout of tabata of 20 seconds on 10 seconds off, 8 times of any cardio you’d like. Some good ones are jumping jacks, mountain climbers, high knees, etc. This whole set takes 4 minutes. With tabata, set a timer and go as hard as you can with your jumping jacks, for example for 20 seconds, then rest for 10 seconds. After completion. Repeat the leg workout.
Technique Points for Quick Leg Workout at Home
This series should take about 10-12 minutes. Some things to keep in mind for technique: keep neck long, shoulders down, abs in, breathe, and listen to your body. At first you may not be able to get through the first round. Therefore, take a short break, finish. You’ll see that in time, you can complete the entire series. Make sure that when you’re rolling up to your toes that your up as high as feels comfortable and that your knees are straight. Align your knees with your ankles. Smile! Do this series 4-5x/week for 4 weeks and take notice of how your legs look and feel.
Why workout your legs?
If you’re on your legs all day or are blessed with gorgeous legs, you may feel like you don’t need to work them. This is not just for looks, although you will absolutely see firmer legs, definition and tone. When you strengthen your legs, especially your ankles, knees and feet as this does, you can do cardio more effectively. You’re also helping yourself prevent injury! Creating muscle tone helps speed up your metabolism too, as does tabata. This series is really effective in many ways.
Confession: I hated my legs for years, maybe decades. It’s too bad because they’ve done so much for me; years of dancing, carried me all over, and sustained my pregnant bellies. We all have a body part or two that we struggle with, sometimes without good cause. I don’t have the type of legs that stay thin and hard. You know those people….they might gain weight in the midsection or arms, but their legs stay flawless. I’m not sharing this workout so that you change your body, as much that you feel stronger and more capable of doing harder workouts!For more workouts you’ll love check out my on demand workouts here. Love, Z
