The best part about leg day is it always results in a heart-pumping and sweaty workout. By using some of the largest, metabolic muscles in your body {glutes, hamstrings and quads} you’re heart-rate naturally rises. In fact, the other day at the gym I told my husband that the squat rack has now become a piece of cardio equipment throughout pregnancy {i mean walking up a flight of stairs gets me winded these days}.
Then throw in some fast-paced plyometrics and you’ve really got yourself a cardio-intense leg workout. If you’ve tried my lower body strength + plyos workout from my 20 minute home workout videos you know what I’m talking about.
But you don’t always need a squat rack or heavy set of dumbbells for an effective leg day. Body-weighted plié squats and lunges can be just as challenging, especially when repeated in fast-paced, tabata circuits. In fact, I think barre workouts are often underestimated.
But I wouldn’t underestimate this barre legs + cardio tabata workout. It’s a 25-30 minute power workout that is designed to target all of the lower body muscles — glutes, thighs, and core; using bodyweight resistance to strengthen and tone your legs while raising your heart-rate to burn calories. Not to mention, plyometrics always help build a lifted booty.
So what are you waiting for?! Grab your mat and sculpt your lower body with these 8 muscle-toning, barre cardio inspired exercises.
PS – This bodyweight workout is great for traveling. So if you’ve got upcoming holiday travel plans on the calendar, pin this workout to your no-equipment workout board!
This workout consists of 4 bodyweight tabata circuits; each circuit has 2 exercises. Perform each exercise for 20 seconds, repeating each tabata circuit x 4 sets before moving onto the next circuit.
Take a 30-60 second break between each tabata circuit and repeat the entire workout x 2 sets.
Tabata Circuit One:
X 4 sets
Tabata Circuit Two:
X 4 sets
Tabata Circuit Three:
X 4 sets
Tabata Circuit Four:
X 4 sets
*Repeat the entire workout x 2 sets.
See video above for complete workout and proper exercise form.
This workout consists of 4 bodyweight tabata circuits; each circuit has 2 exercises. Perform each exercise for 20 seconds, repeating each tabata circuit x 4 sets before moving onto the next circuit. Take a 30-60 second break between each tabata circuit and repeat the entire workout x 2 sets.
Tabata Circuit One:
X 4 sets
Tabata Circuit Two:
X 4 sets
Tabata Circuit Three:
X 4 sets
Tabata Circuit Four:
X 4 sets
Wow, Lindsey. Your instruction of workouts always impresses me much. You did it diligently and whole-heartedly. Thanks for posting.
Thanks Brad! And thanks for checking out my workout posts; hopefully you can put a few of them to good use! -Lindsey
This workout looks awesome, Lindsay. Barre workouts always have my muscles burning! Pinning!!
Thanks for pinning and sharing Jen! It’s a good leg burner that’s for sure…I seriously think people underestimate the ‘barre burn’! Enjoy! xo-Lindsey
HOTTEST MAMA I KNOW
Thanks for making my day Lee! I missed working out with you ladies this morning! xo-Linds