I swapped lifting heavy weights for this six-move lower-body Barre routine—these are my honest thoughts

If you don't have much time to work out, it’s easy to feel like it's not worth bothering at all. But regular, short bursts of exercise can still have a big impact on both physical and mental health.

Barre instructor Mara Cimatoribus recently shared a lower-body routine for people who don't have a lot of time to exercise but still want to move their bodies. It doesn't require you to have any equipment, either.

If you've never tried barre before, it's a ballet-inspired style of movement that builds strength, improves posture and enhances stability.

Barre isolates and activates muscles that are often overlooked in typical weights workouts. This routine is designed to build stronger glutes, while also targeting a range of other lower-body muscles.

How to do this quick barre workout

You don't need any weights for this workout, just something to lean on, ideally a sturdy chair. A yoga mat, towel or blanket can also make the exercises done lying down more comfortable.

The workout consists of just six moves and Cimatoribus suggests completing 12-15 repetitions of each move, followed by small pulses to increase the time your muscles are under tension.

The entire session takes less than 10 minutes but it’s important not to rush. Move slowly and focus on good form to get the most out of it.

My experience of this barre workout

I've been weight training for years to build muscle, but I've recently been experimenting with Pilates and barre, and was curious to see how this short bodyweight workout would compare.

I'm always surprised by how effective bodyweight workouts can be and this one was no exception. Just a few moves in, I could feel the muscles in my glutes (buttocks) fire up and by the halfway point of the workout, my lower-body muscles were shaking—a telltale sign that the pulses were doing their job.

Overall, this routine was an effective way to activate my lower body in a short amount of time. While I wouldn't entirely replace my weights workouts with home bodyweight sessions like this one, I'm a firm believer in a well-rounded and diverse exercise routine, so I plan to incorporate more short workouts like this into my schedule.

It serves as a fantastic way to mix up your training and stay active without equipment or a trip to the gym—perfect for a quick movement break at home—and with consistent practice, it can help build glute strength over time.