10-Minute Cardio At Home Workout

Medicine ball press-up
(Image credit: Photograph: Will Ireland. Model: Jess @ W Model Management. Hair & make up: Louise Heywood @ Artistic Licence. Clothing: Model’s own)

Perform each move for 45 seconds, then rest for 15 seconds. Aim for two rounds in 10 minutes.

1 Lunge with rotation

Lunge with twist holding medicine ball

(Image credit: Photograph: Will Ireland. Model: Jess @ W Model Management. Hair & make up: Louise Heywood @ Artistic Licence. Clothing: Model’s own)

Time 45sec Rest 15sec

Works Quads, glutes, core, shoulders and hamstrings

Grab a weighted ball and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Lift the ball up to your shoulders, arms extended in front. Step your right leg forwards into a lunge, thigh parallel to the floor, then twist from your waist to the right. Pushing into your right heel, stand up and return the ball to the centre. Repeat with your left leg, twisting to the left, to complete one rep.

2 Woodchop

Medicine ball woodchop

(Image credit: Photograph: Will Ireland. Model: Jess @ W Model Management. Hair & make up: Louise Heywood @ Artistic Licence. Clothing: Model’s own)

Time 45sec Rest 15sec

Works Quads, glutes, abs, shoulders and upper back

Stand with your feet just beyond shoulder-width apart. With your arms nearly straight and holding the ball above your head, turn to your right from your waist. With a single chopping action, swing the ball down to your left side as you bend your legs. Quickly reverse the movement with the same intensity and return to the starting position, to repeat on the other side.

3 Press-up and roll

Press-up with medicine ball roll

(Image credit: Photograph: Will Ireland. Model: Jess @ W Model Management. Hair & make up: Louise Heywood @ Artistic Licence. Clothing: Model’s own)

Time 45sec Rest 15sec

Works Shoulders, biceps, triceps and core

Begin in a plank position with your right hand on top of the medicine ball and left hand on
the floor. Hands are directly below shoulders with arms straight. Lower your chest towards the floor, bending your elbows and keeping your body straight. (If this is too difficult, bend your knees and place them on the ground.) Press up to the start position, then roll the ball over to the other side and repeat the push-up with the ball under your left hand.

4 Russian twist

Russian twist with medicine ball

(Image credit: Photograph: Will Ireland. Model: Jess @ W Model Management. Hair & make up: Louise Heywood @ Artistic Licence. Clothing: Model’s own)

Time 45sec Rest 15sec

Works Core muscles

Begin in a seated position with your knees bent and feet off the floor, holding a medicine ball in front of your chest. Twist the ball to your right hip bone, keeping your body centred (B), then twist the ball to your left. Continue to twist back and forth while keeping your feet off the floor and core tight.

This article first appeared in an issue of Health & Fitness.

Lucy Miller
Former editor

Lucy Miller is an experienced journalist who has worked across a range of health and fitness titles. She was the fitness and nutrition editor at Men’s Fitness UK, and has also been fitness editor of both Health & Fitness UK and Women’s Fitness UK. Lucy qualified as a NASM-certified personal trainer and nutritionist in 2008.