A barre instructor says this five-minute no-equipment routine will give you an energy boost—I put it to the test

It's normal to experience slumps in energy throughout the day, particularly if you're staring at a computer screen. My usual solution is caffeine or a sugary snack, but the energy boost is often short-lived and I end up feeling more lethargic in the long run.

So, is there another solution? One of my favourite fitness instructors, Mara Cimatoribus, recently shared a five-minute workout that is designed to provide a natural boost of energy.

There's plenty of science to show that moving your body can increase your energy levels, with a study by Georgia University finding that low-intensity exercise can reduce fatigue symptoms by as much as 65%.

Of course, when you're tired, heading to the gym or out for a run can feel like a chore, but Cimatoribus' routine takes just five minutes, you can do it at home, and you don’t even need to change into workout gear.

This is a barre style workout, which involves small bodyweight movements, often holding or pulsing through exercises to isolate multiple muscles throughout the body.

How to do Mara Cimatoribus' barre snack workout

You don't need any equipment to do this routine, you might prefer to use a yoga mat for the seated exercise but it’s not a necessity. The workout only takes five minutes, so you can easily do it as a quick break from working.

Cimatoribus has shared rep counts for each move in the caption of her Instagram post, so take a look at her Reel for more details.

My experience trying Mara Cimatoribus' barre snack workout

I've tried barre plenty of times before and it's a style of workout I really enjoy, because it’s a fantastic way to build strength. It engages a range of muscles and can also improve your coordination, posture and mobility.

The routine will help to strengthen muscles in the legs and core, and it will also mobilize the hips, an area in which many desk workers experience tightness due to excessive sitting.

But did this routine actually improve my energy? Surprisingly, yes. I felt much better returning to my desk after completing this workout. I was in a better mood and my stress levels were lower.

A lot of the exercises in this routine can help to improve coordination, and by thinking about moving multiple body parts at once, my mind was fully focused on the workout rather than daily stresses.

The first few exercises in this routine involved moving the entire body in an intentional, energetic way. It felt like I was physically shaking off the stress and fatigue of the day.

I plan to come back to this routine whenever I'm looking for an energy boost, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking for a productive and positive way to take a break from their daily routine.