Is a 10-minute workout worth doing? You bet it is. Adding exercise to your day gets your blood flowing, makes you feel good and raises your energy level to new heights – even if it’s only for a short amount of time. If you can’t find the time for a full 30- or 60-minute workout, a 10-minute cardio blast makes the most of the minutes you do have. Here’s a great cardio workout routine that anyone can do, any time of the day. Get ready to feel energized!
The Warmup
Whether your workout is 10 minutes or 60 minutes, you should always start with a warmup. A dynamic stretch routine helps loosen up your muscles and prepares your body for exercise. Your movements should be slow and flowing.
- Arm circles while marching in place for 30 seconds
- March with high knees while swinging your arms for 30 seconds
- 10 calf raises. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and rise up onto your toes, hold for a second, then lower back down.
- 10 squats. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and toes pointed forward. Sit back as if you were going to sit in a chair, hold for a second, then – leading with your hips – come back up to standing.
- 10 shallow lunges. Put your hands on your hips, keep a nice straight back and take an exaggerated step forward, lowering your rear knee toward the ground. Hold the lunge for two seconds and then step back. Repeat with the other leg.
- Jog in place for 30 seconds
The Ultimate 10-Minute Workout
Now it’s time to start your cardio workout. Do each exercise for 30 seconds, then move onto the next one.
1. March in place (as you did in your warmup).
2. Shallow squats with front arm raises.
As you lower your body, lift both arms in front of you, parallel to the floor, and hold. Lead with the hips. Come up and lower your arms down to the side.
3. Jog in place. (I’m pretty sure you know how to do this one!)
4. Slightly deeper squats with a shoulder press.
Lower your body with your arms folded across your chest. As you come up, do a traditional shoulder press and reach your hands up as high as you can above your head.
5. Jumping jacks.
Arms can come out to shoulder height or overhead.
6. Right side split squats with a lateral arm raise.
Place one foot in front of the other, in lunge position, arms by your side. Come down, keeping both feet in position, lift your arms and come back up. Repeat for 30 seconds.
7. Jump side to side.
For low impact, step from side to side.
8. Left side split squats with shoulder shrugs.
Place one foot in front of the other (opposite foot from exercise 6), then come down with arms hanging straight down. As you come up, keep both feet in position and shrug both of your shoulders. Repeat for 30 seconds.
Repeat this sequence if you can, or pair this 10-minute workout with a quick seven-minute lower body interval workout targeting glutes, quads and hamstrings, followed by a few minutes of cool-down stretching.
You don’t have to follow this cardio routine exactly – just have fun and be creative for 10 minutes. If you insist and can’t find even 10 minutes during the day, challenge yourself to jump out of bed and do this workout in your pajamas!
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