Do you hate lifting weights and but want to find a way to tone your lower body?
Try this Pilates/Fitness Fusion leg workout I just uploaded on my own YouTube channel. It’s a hybrid of the Pilates side leg series with a few of my favorite side butt burners. This workout features 6 moves, and focuses on the side butt and inner thigh – two very important muscles that are often neglected in a typical strength training workout. These muscles are important in injury prevention for runners, and also help create slimmer, longer looking legs.
These are toning moves which mean, they do not burn a ton of calories in and of themselves but they work the muscles to fatigue promoting strength and definition. If you have a significant amount of weight to lose, these exercises are beneficial in keeping your knees safe as you continue on your weight loss journey! However, if you are doing these exercises to lose weight, don’t forget about your cardio. This routine is a good idea to do after or even before a good interval run!
- Kneeling Side Bend Leg Lift: Kneel on your right knee, left foot extended straight, left hand directly underneath right shoulder. Foot flexed, toe pointing down towards ground lift and lower for 10 reps followed by 10 pulses. Repeat one more time for a total of 40 “lifts.”
- Inner Thigh Lift: Lie down on your side. Bend top leg and bring in front of body at 90 degrees. Lower foot flexed, lift to squeeze inner thighs together and lower. Do 15 reps, then pulse for 10 reps at the top.
- Side Leg Lift: Laying on side, hover top leg about 12 inches above ground. Lift lower leg up to meet the top leg and lower for 10 reps, then hold for 10 seconds at the top.
- Side Kick Up/Down: Laying down point top foot and lift leg all the way up, flex foot and lower. for 12 reps.
- Side Leg Circles: With top foot about 12 inches off the ground, complete 8 beach ball sized circles to the front followed by 8 circles to the back.
- Open and Closed Bent Leg Lifts: Bring legs up and in an 90 degrees, knees bent and top foot flexed, lift from side glute up as high as you can and lower like opening and closing a book for 15 reps.
