This bodyweight leg workout will challenge you to build lower body strength using zero equipment! This no equipment lower body workout targets the legs, glutes, quads and hamstrings, using just the resistance of your body so you can do it anytime, anywhere.
Many people associate leg day with heavy barbell squats and a lot of reps on fancy exercise machines at the gym.
While you’ll regularly hear me encourage you to LIFT HEAVY DUMBBELLS on leg day, there are some great bodyweight leg workouts you can do that are just as effective.
A unique way to challenge your lower body strength is to increase time under tension. We’re going to do just that in today’s workout (hello, burnout moves!). It’s also important to train in different directions and planes of movement — we’re going to do that, too!
Bodyweight Leg Workout FAQs
Do Bodyweight Leg Exercises Work?
YES! Bodyweight leg exercises can target all lower body muscles including your glutes, hips, quads, hamstrings and calves. No equipment, lower body workouts can be scaled for beginner, intermediate or advanced, making them effective for anyone. You’ll also burn a lot of calories during these workouts because your lower body has some very large muscle groups.
Can You Build Leg Muscle With Bodyweight Only Exercises?
Yes, you can build lower body strength with no equipment. Progressive overload is going to be important, so you’ll want to increase reps and decrease rest time to make the most of a bodyweight leg workout. Implementing different variations of bodyweight exercises and focusing on that mind and muscle connection is also important.
Bodyweight Leg Workout (Zero 30, Day 3)
Build strong legs using just your bodyweight! You need zero equipment and just 30 minutes to complete this workout at home.
This is a timed interval workout – meaning you do as many reps as possible in the ‘work’ period. Your pace, your tempo (rep ranges will vary from person to person).
Workout Equipment:
None! Just your bodyweight.
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Timed Intervals (Perform each STRENGTH exercise for 40 seconds of work, followed immediately by the STRENGTH BURNOUT exercise for 20 seconds of work. Take a 20 second rest.)
Repeat Each Circuit x 2 Sets (rest for one minute between circuits)
Workout Outline
CIRCUIT ONE 1. Air Squat
2. Squat Hold and Pulse
3. Lateral Lunge and Transverse Squat, Right
4. Lateral Lunge Hold and Pulse OR Power Push Off, Right
5. Lateral Lunge and Transverse Squat, Left
6. Lateral Lunge Hold and Pulse OR Power Push Off, Left
CIRCUIT TWO 1. Reverse Lunge, Knee Drive and Reverse Lunge, Rear Lift
2. Rear Lift and Balance Front Leg Pulse
3. Curtsy Lunge and Squat
4. Side Leg Lift
5. Front Lunge and Single Leg Deadlift
6. Front Lunge Hold and Heel Lift
CIRCUIT THREE 1. 2-Pulse Sumo Squat
2. Sumo Squat Hip Lifts
3. Quadruped Fire Hydrant and Kick
4. Side Kick Hold and Hamstring Kicks
5. Glute Bridge March
6. Single Leg Glute Bridge Hold and Pulse
Start standing, feet hip-width apart, slightly bent knees.
Step your right leg out to the side as you push your hips back, bending your right knee while leaving your left leg straight. Think of performing a single leg squat with your right leg while your left leg remains straight.
Then, drive off your right foot to reverse the movement, pushing back to center.
Then, step your right foot out to a 45-degree angle, stepping so your feet are now shoulder-width apart.
Lower down into a squat position, lowering your hips down parallel with your knees. Drive your knees out toward your outer three toes.
Drive through your heels to stand tall, squeezing your glutes.
That sequence is one rep. Repeat, stepping the right leg out this entire set, switching legs on the next set.
Reverse Lunge, Knee Drive And Reverse Lunge, Rear Lift
Targets: Legs, hamstrings, quads, glutes, abs and core.
How To Do A Reverse Lunge, Knee Drive And Reverse Lunge, Rear Lift
Step your left leg back into a reverse lunge, lowering your hips until both knees reach a 90-degree angle, front thigh parallel to the ground.
Then squeeze your right leg glute, driving your back, left leg forward into a knee drive as you stand tall.
Immediately step your left leg back into a reverse lunge again, lowering your hips until both knees reach a 90-degree angle, front thigh parallel to the ground.
Then squeeze your right leg glute, driving your back, left leg up into a rear leg lift. Left leg is long behind you, balancing on your standing right leg.
That’s one rep. Repeat this sequence, keeping the right leg still this entire set, switching legs on the next set.
Modification: Option to tap the right foot in rather than performing the knee drive.
Curtsy Lunge And Squat
Targets: Legs, glutes, quads, hamstrings and core.
Step your left leg back into a curtsy lunge (left knee behind right calf), left knee lowers towards the mat. Lower your hips until both knees reach a 90-degree angle, front thigh parallel to the floor.
Then squeeze your right glute, driving your back, left leg forward as you stand up. As you stand, bring your feet parallel and shoulder-width apart.
Then, lower down into a squat position, lowering your hips down parallel with your knees. Drive your knees out toward your outer three toes.
Drive through your heels to stand tall, squeezing your glutes.
That’s one rep. Repeat, stepping the left leg back into a curtsy lunge this entire set. Switch legs on the next set.
Front Lunge And Single Leg Deadlift
Targets: Legs, quads, posterior chain (backside of body) — glutes, hamstrings, lower back and core muscles. The single leg deadlift will also challenge your balance.
Step your left leg forward into a front lunge, lowering until both knees reach a 90-degree angle, front thigh parallel to the ground.
Then squeeze your right leg glute to stand tall. As you stand tall, keep the left leg floating (option to tap the left foot near the standing right foot).
Perform a single leg deadlift on the right leg. Hinge at the hips (hip flexors), extending your left leg long behind you as you lower the left hand to tap the mat in front of you; balancing on your right leg. Keep your hips square to the mat.
You should feel a good stretch in your right hamstring (back of your right leg) at the bottom of this movement. Range of motion looks different for everyone.
Then drive through your front right heel, squeezing your glutes and hamstrings to push your hips forward and return to the starting position. Bringing your floating back left leg up to meet your right leg again.
That’s one rep. Repeat by stepping back into the front lunge. Switch legs on the next set.
2-Pulse Sumo Squat
Targets: Inner thighs, outer thighs, glutes and quads.
How To Do A 2-Pulse Sumo Squat
Stand with feet wider than hips, heels in and toes pointed out (sumo squat stance).
Bend your knees to lower down into a squat, pushing your knees out towards your pinky toes as you drop your hips parallel to your knees.
At the bottom of your sumo squat, perform a pulse by raising up an inch, then lowering back down an inch. Repeat for a 2-pulse.
Then, drive through your glutes to stand back up to the starting position; pulling your inner thighs together as you stand tall.
Quadruped Fire Hydrant And Kick (Quadruped Hip Abductions)
Targets: Mainly the gluteus maximus, hip abductors and core.
How To Do Quadruped Fire Hydrant And Kick (Quadruped Hip Abductions)
Start in a table top position, quadruped on all fours, shoulders stacked over wrists and hips stacked over knees. Option to place your forearms on the mat.
Lift your right leg up and to the side so you create a straight line from glute to knee, keeping a 90-degree bend in your right knee.
Hold at the top and straighten your right leg; kicking through your right heel.
Pull your right foot back in to bend at the knee and create a 90-degree angle again, then bring your right knee back down to the mat.
Repeat on the right side for this set, switch sides performing on the left leg for the second set.
Glute Bridge March
Targets: Gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, hips and hamstrings.
How To Do A Glute Bridge March
Lie flat on the floor on your back with your knees bent at 90 degrees and feet flat on the ground.
Press through the heels to raise your hips off the ground until your knees, hips and shoulders form a straight line. This is a glute bridge.
As you lift the hips, drive the right knee towards your face, pulling your right foot off the ground. This is a glute bridge march.
Squeeze your glutes hard and keep your abs drawn in so you don’t overextend your back during the exercise.
Hold your bridged position for a second before lowering back down towards the mat with control. As you lower, place the right foot back on the mat.
Repeat, alternating the knee that drives toward you, for the entire set.
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Bodyweight Leg Day
Bodyweight Leg Day
