Build a lean lower-body with this 35-minute glute and leg workout

Just because you don't have access to a gym over the Christmas period, that doesn't mean you can't grow your glutes and build a lean lower-body without weights. 

We've found a workout that can help you achieve all this without touching a single barbell, dumbbell, kettlebell or exercise machine. The only piece of equipment you might want is one of the best yoga mats to provide some extra grip and cushioning, but this isn't a necessity. 

The session has been designed by certified fitness trainer Anna Engelschall, better known by her 2.45 million YouTube subscribers as GrowingAnnanas. It includes a series of leg and glute-oriented exercises, all bookended by a dynamic warm-up and cool-down consisting of static stretches. So you can enjoy a comprehensive lower-body workout in just 35 minutes.

Follow along with Engelschall's video below to try the workout for yourself, and copy her form cues to make sure you're using the right technique for each movement. 

Watch GrowingAnnanas leg and glute workout

If you want to build strength and muscle, it's key to create sufficient mechanical tension in your muscles. This means they need to be exposed to a force that is trying to stretch them and lifting weights is one of the most effective ways to achieve this. However, it can be done without the likes of the best adjustable dumbbells, as Engelschall shows with this workout. 

Instead of adding weights, she uses gravity and her bodyweight to provide the necessary resistance. Exercises like elevated squat jumps place your legs under tension by challenging them to control your body as it lowers towards the ground, then provide the necessary power to explosively stand up tall again. 

Many of the movements included in this session are compound exercises. This means they use multiple muscle groups, making the workout extra efficient. There are also many unilateral movements (like explosive split squats) which task you with using one side of your body at a time. This makes the movement more difficult as one leg has to support your body weight rather than the usual two, helping achieve the stimulus needed for muscle-growth. 

If you want to give this workout a go, we recommend using it as a daily lower-body workout. You will also want to give your leg muscles the chance to recover afterwards, so for the next 24 hours consider trying an upper-body session like this chest and back workout, or a lower-intensity activity such as these anti-aging yoga moves.