5-4-3-2-1 Bodyweight Workout

Every once in a while I come up with a workout I know will quickly become a go-to workout for me. To become a go-to workout, the workout has to be one I look forward to completing, which means it cannot be the least bit boring and it has to keep things moving. Today’s 5-4-3-2-1 Bodyweight Workout checks all of those boxes and doesn’t require any equipment, making it a wonderful workout you can do anywhere!

If you liked the 10 to 1 Bodyweight Workout I shared last summer, today’s workout will likely be right up your alley as well!

5-4-3-2-1 Bodyweight Workout

To complete the workout, you’ll make your way through five blocks, each with a different theme.

Up first is Block One, a cardio block where you’ll get your body nice and warm by completing five minutes of cardio of your choice (running, jump rope, incline walking, jumping jacks, a random cardio exercise combination, etc.)

The next four blocks contain different exercises and you’ll complete each one for one minute before moving onto the next. Block Two is a Total Body Strength Block where you’ll perform four bodyweight strength exercises before moving onto Block Three (Core) with three core exercises (hence the decreasing 5-4-3-2-1 name of this workout). Block Four will spike your heart rate with two plyometric exercises and you’ll conclude the workout in Block Five with one isometric hold.

If you complete the workout one time through, you’re looking at a 15-minute workout. I personally prefer to complete two rounds of this workout for a 30-minute workout, but another round can be added for those looking for a longer 45-minute sweat session.

Rather than begin your second round from the beginning, you can also play around with the format a little bit and work your way back up the blocks, so once your isometric hold is complete, you’ll move back up to the plyo exercises, followed by the core exercises and so on.

Also, if you’re doing this workout from home and want a cardio option you can do in your living room without any equipment, here’s a quick five-minute cardio circuit:

• 1 min. high knees
• 1 min. jumping jacks
• 1 min. butt kickers
• 1 min. skaters
• 1 min. mountain climbers

Exercise Descriptions

BLOCK ONE: Cardio

5 minutes cardio of choice

BLOCK TWO: Total Body Strength

Pushups: Begin in a plank position with hands under and slightly outside of your shoulders. Bracing your core, lower your body until chest nearly touches the floor. Push up to return body to starting position.

Pulsing Sumo Squat: Begin with your legs opened wide to the sides and your toes turned slightly outward. Clasp your hands in front of your body, bend your knees and lower your body, keeping your shoulders over your hips. Hold your body at the bottom of the squat position and pulse repeatedly.

Triceps Pushups: Begin in a plank position with your hands shoulder-width apart and your core engaged. Keeping your arms parallel to your sides and your elbows pointing straight back, lower your chest toward the floor. Push back up to start and repeat.

Alternating Lunges: Stand with your hands on your hips and take a large step backward with your left foot. Lower your body so your front leg is parallel to the floor with your knee positioned over your ankle. Return to standing by pressing your right heel into the ground and bringing your left leg forward for one full rep. Switch legs and repeat.

BLOCK THREE: Core

Plank Shoulder Taps: Begin in a high plank position with your wrists under your shoulders and feet hip-width apart. Touch your left shoulder with your right hand and return to high plank position. Touch your right shoulder with your left hand and return to high plank position.

Bicycle Crunch: Begin lying flat on the floor and pull your bellybutton toward the floor. Press your lower back into the ground and put your hands behind your head. Bring your knees to your chest and lift your shoulder blades off the ground. Straighten your left leg while simultaneously twisting your body and bringing your left elbow toward your right knee. Switch sides and repeat.

Alternating Leg Raises: Begin lying flat on the floor with your arms either at your sides or slightly tucked under your hips for additional support. Keeping the leg straight, hover one leg off the floor. Slowing lift the opposite leg high, until it is 90-degrees with the ground. Slowly lower the lifted leg until it is slightly off the ground. Switch legs and repeat, never allowing the legs to touch the ground.

BLOCK FOUR: Plyometric Burst

180-Degree Jump Squats: Begin in a deep squat position with your legs slightly wider than your hips and your toes pointing slightly outward. Jump up, twisting your torso and spinning your body around 180-degrees and landing softly in a squat position. Repeat, reversing the direction you jump and going back to your starting position.

Jump Lunges: Begin in a lunge stance with your left foot out front and your front leg bent at 90 degrees at the knee and hip. Engage your core and push off the bottom of both feet to jump into the air, switching the position of your feet midair and landing in lunge position with your right leg out in front. Quickly repeat.

BLOCK 5: Isometric Hold

Triceps Pushup Plank Hold: Begin in a plank position with your hands shoulder-width apart and your core engaged. Keeping your arms parallel to your sides and your elbows pointing straight back, lower your chest toward the floor. Hold in this position, hovering slightly over the ground.

Details

Wearing:

• Tank: Lorna Jane
• Sports Bra: Lululemon Free to Be Bra
• Capris: Nike Sculpt Capris
• Shoes: Nike Free Transform Flyknit

Photography: Stacey Lanier Photography

Location: Burn Boot Camp