Like everyone, there’s days when I wake up, look outside and (rain or sunshine) can’t quite face the gym. And days that are so busy it seems impossible to squeeze in any exercise at all! But I keep a YouTube playlist of the top workout videos I’ve tried and tested throughout the years, and I always come back to them when I know a bit of exercise is going to do me a world of good (which is almost always the case).
As I’m off on holiday for a week – exploring the finest in Turkey’s R&R and fitness offerings – I thought I’d share with you my top five. Which leaves you with no excuse for sitting still while I’m off doing some tough research. The things I do for you…
Find your modern day Jane
Best for…
An empowering yoga escape
Mark Gonzales has called this video Onese1f for very good reason. You will definitely stretch yourself and explore the limit of your capabilities. It’s an intense 75 minutes of powerful yoga holds and dynamic flows that will get you to break a sweat and forget about anything outside your practice.
Motivating Pilates-style toning
Renee the instructor’s toned figure will keep you hanging onto her every word for the full 30 minute class. While I don’t find this workout overly challenging, I love it when I’m feeling a bit tired and want a gentle way to switch on all my muscles from top to toe.
A quick metabolic blast with dumbbells
I adore Jillean Michaels and can personally swear by her Making the Cut training programme – along with the diet, it took my body fat levels down to 18% in under a month. Her style isn’t for everyone so you’ll have to try it for yourself, but I find her mix of weight-based exercises and cardio intervals keeps me interested and challenged. If you don’t have dumbbells at home, try filling two 1L water bottles at least halfway and holding these instead.
Maximum calorie burn with minimal gear
All you need is a mat or towel and a big glass of water to tackle this HIIT cardio class. A countdown clock and calorie calculator help you stay focused and encourage you to push out as many reps as possible in the final seconds of each exercise. It’s simple, sweaty and scientific in execution – my favourite kind of workout!
Targeted trouble spot training
If I’m heading to the beach soon (like I am as I write), I like to spend a little more time on my legs, glutes and abs to boost my bikini confidence. This bum and thighs workout will also activate your abs if you do the exercises with good form – and Lisa-Jane talks you through each move to make sure you’re getting it right. It can be a little simple at times, but she expertly mixes up staple exercises to keep key muscle groups under working tension for longer, which means faster results when it matters most!
Right, off to go barefoot running in the sand! Enjoy your workouts and we’ll see you back here in a week!
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