This year I learned in a big way that sometimes taking time off from exercise is 100% necessary. Multiple health concerns caused me to take a step back so that I could allow my body to rest and recharge. Forcing myself into strenuous workouts after my body had already experienced some degree of trauma would have actually been counterproductive. After managing my health concerns for a few weeks, I was ready to re-introduce exercise into my routine, starting with a low-impact program.
Why Low-Impact?
If you've recently gone through health issues or are simply starting from ground zero when it comes to working out, low-impact routines are the way to go for so many reasons. They are:
- excellent for practicing proper form
- a realistic way to establish a routine
- gentle on your joints
- accessible for most fitness levels
For most beginners, low-impact programs may also be bodyweight-only/equipment free. But after I finished my low-impact program, I wanted to explore more low-impact routines that would challenge even intermediate/advanced fitness levels. I put together a routine that can be modified and personalized for any degree of fitness so that y'all have no excuse not to try it!
Low-Impact Booty Workout
For this glute-targeting low-impact routine, I'd recommend using the following equipment:
- Treadmill
- Resistance loops
- Yoga mat
If you don't have a treadmill, you can certainly take that portion of the workout outdoors, but try to find an area with a pretty good incline to elevate your heart rate. Also, especially for beginners, resistance loops/bands are not necessary, but they add an extra challenge to the mat workout for intermediate/advanced fitness levels.
This workout includes your warmup and cooldown, and you can complete the whole thing in about 35-40 minutes. (Or, if you're like me, that's about two episodes of Friends.) I recommend going through the mat workout twice, but if you're cashed out after round one, no one's judging you!
For me, this workout was sneaky hard. I'll warn you - you might be hurting the next day, but that just means it worked! Give it a try and let me know what you thought in the comments below!
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