Most exercises target specific parts of the body. These can be effective in helping you get fit, but ones that work every part of the body will give you a more efficient workout so that you can spend less time exercising.
Here are some exercises that target multiple muscles groups, and, best of all, they don’t require you to invest in fancy gym equipment to get a great all over work out.
#1: Push-Ups
Push ups are pretty old school, but they are great for working out your entire body. They work to strengthen your triceps and core with an effectiveness that goes all the way to your thighs.
There are various types of pushups you can do including those that are done with your legs bent and those done in a full extension. They are all recommended for providing you with a full body workout.
#2: Squats
Those that are really looking to body build often concentrate on those guns and ignore the lower parts of their bodies. If you are guilty of making this fatal oversight, it’s not too late to start incorporating squats into your workout.
Squats are great for working your glutes and hamstrings but if you use your arms as you do them, they can also strengthen the core and upper body.
#3: Burpees
These involve going from a standing position into a sit up and then back up into a full standing position. The movement is repeated and can involve extending the arms or even jumping when standing.
These are great because they work the chest, quads, arms, abs, hamstrings and glutes. They also increase the strength of your legs and have been proven to burn 50% more fat than most other exercises.
#4: Step Ups
A step up can be as simple as walking up and down a stair, but if you crunch your abs, extend your arms or add weights, you can make this into a full body work out. To up the level of intensity, try jumping up and down from a high surface.
#5: Lunges
Lunges are another exercise that gives you the potential to use your full body. While they primarily target leg muscles, like your glutes, hamstrings and quadriceps, you can also get your core involved by bending at the waist as you lunge or you can extend your arms to get those upper body muscles going as well.
Lunges can be done in a myriad of ways. If you are going for the traditional lunge, one leg will be stationary. But if you would like to elaborate on this basic exercise, try extending one leg and bending the other out straight ahead. Another alternative is to focus on something in the distance and try lunging towards it.
#6: Deadlift
Deadlifts are more geared to those who really want to build muscle and they do require that you own dumb bells, but if you are the body builder type, or if you are willing to get adventurous in your routine, deadlifts can provide you with a great full body workout.
Deadlifts require you to keep your body stationary while bringing a dumb bell to your thighs. They use a whole body strength that you should be able to feel from your lower body up to your shoulders.
#7: Side and Front Planks
We all remember when planking was a trend we couldn’t get away from on social media. And while we may be relieved never to have to see planking being done by a group of rowdy teens again, incorporating it into our exercise routines can make for a great full body workouts.
Planking can be done in several ways including straight out, on your forearms or on your side. The strength it takes to keep your body straight provides benefits to your core, legs, arms, back and just about every muscle in your body.
Conclusion
You can spend hours in the gym working out individual parts of your body, but to really exercise efficiently, try incorporating these exercises into your workout. You should immediately start seeing improvements in your overall tone and, best of all, less time exercising means you will have more time to spend doing things that you enjoy.
