The ‘Fantastic Five’ to add some excitement to your leg day workout

Leg day isn’t exactly the most exciting part of your workout routine. The exercises are generally the same week after week, so your main focus is probably checking them off your list and getting them over with. Well, not today, because—believe it or not—your leg day workout can actually be fun with a few simple tweaks.

While you can only do so many basic squats before you’re over it, moving across the room while dropping it low can up the excitement. And instead of doing lunges, you can do a glide variation that will leave you sweating bullets—not to mention burning all over. “Having strong legs allows you to perform your best in workouts. Plus, glutes fall into the leg day category, and everyone wants a good peach,” says Oliver Lee, Peloton Tread instructor.

The next time leg day rolls around, switch things up with the “Fantastic Five”—a group of trainer-approved exercises that allow you to work your legs and have fun doing it.

Try the ‘Fantastic Five’ to make your leg day workout more interesting

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC8qXgXeQrE?start=141]

1. Low lunge glide

1. Stand in a wide stance with your toes pointed out.
2. Keeping your chest up and a straight line from your head to your tailbone, move your body from side to side in a low lunge.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-kPo9o-PvQ?start=46]

2. Pliés

1. Stand in a wide stance with your toes pointed out.
2. Keeping a neutral spine, bend your knees and lower your body into a plié.
3. Come back up and repeat.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LqVUlEd6Ho?start=74]

3. Parallel kickback

1. Start in a tabletop position.
2. With a resistance band around your foot, kick your leg back directly behind you with a flexed foot.
3. Bring your knee to your belly button and repeat.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TfZxvb3gRM?start=302]

4. Walking squat

1. Get into a squat position with your hands behind your head.
2. Walk five steps forward, making sure to drive your knees out and away from each other.
3. Walk backward, keeping your squat position, and repeat.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26OK3kgTtDk?start=250]

5. Single leg hop

1. Starting with one leg behind the other, step on your front leg as you hop your back leg up. While hopping, aim for high knees and pointed toes.
2. Complete 10 reps before switching to the opposite leg.

Are you doing squats correctly? Find out with this video:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OfycnUL0h8]

This at-home Pilates workout will set your legs and glutes on fire. Then if you get sore from your leg workouts, there’s one thing you can do that will help every time: go on a walk.

Written by: WellGood