Easter holidays can be hectic, but that doesn’t mean you have to forget about your fitness. In between cooking a feast, visiting with friends and family and eating plenty of chocolate, carve out a little time to focus on yourself and work up a sweat with our quick and effective Easter workout. You could even get the whole family involved. Just tell them an Easter treat will be waiting for them at the end!
From your own living room to your parents’ back garden, this workout can be adapted to wherever you are. Make it as long or short as you want by adjusting the number of reps and sets. Let’s hop to it!
Bunny hops (AKA lateral side jumps)
Make like the Easter Bunny and practise your hopping skills with lateral side jumps that will challenge your coordination and balance.
Instructions: Place a weighted bag (or a backpack if you don’t have one) on the ground and stand next to it with your feet together. Remain facing forward as you jump sideways over the bag without turning your body, landing with both feet on the other side of the bag. Try swinging your arms to give yourself momentum as you make the jump. Repeat for 2-3 sets of 10-15 reps each.
Primary muscles: Quads, calves, hamstrings, glutes
Hot cross buns (AKA curtsy lunges)
Target those lower body gains with curtsy lunges to build strength and stability in your knees and ankles.
Instructions: Start by standing upright with your feet hip-width apart and your hands on your hips. Take a big step backwards with your right foot, crossing it behind your left. Bend your knees and lower your body until your left thigh is close to parallel to the ground. Make sure to keep your torso and shoulders as still and steady as possible — no twisting or bending. Return to upright and repeat the same movement on the other side. This is one rep.
Primary muscles: Quads, glutes
Rabbit kicks (AKA donkey kicks)
Keep it slow and controlled to tighten and tone your core and glutes with donkey kicks. Focus on quality of form over quantity of reps!
Instructions: Start on the floor on your hands and knees with your hands directly under your shoulders and knees under your hips. Make sure your core is engaged and your chin is tucked slightly to keep the back of the neck flat. Use your glutes to lift your right leg up and behind you towards the ceiling, maintaining a 90-degree bend in the leg and a flexed foot. Lift to the point just before your back starts to arch. Keep your hips level and squared to the ground and your back neutral. Lower leg to the start position and repeat.
Primary muscles: Glutes, core, shoulders
Basket swing (AKA kettlebell swing)
Prepare yourself for all the Easter egg baskets you’ll be carrying later with kettlebell swings designed to promote good posture and full-body strength. Use a weighted rucksack if you don’t have a kettlebell at home.
Instructions: Stand upright with legs slightly wider than shoulder distance apart. Hold the kettlebell in front of your body with both hands, arms straight down. Hinge at your hips and bend your knees slightly to swing the kettlebell back through your legs. Use the momentum to stand straight and swing the kettlebell in front of your body, up to shoulder height. As you swing forward and stand up straight, squeeze your glutes and core. Allow the kettlebell to swing back down through your legs. That counts as one rep.
Primary muscles: Shoulders, core, glutes
Dippy egg and soldiers (AKA tricep dips)
Ideal for a workout on the go, all you need is your own body weight and a sturdy ledge, chair or bench to tone and strengthen your triceps.
Instructions: Sit on a chair, bench or ledge. Grip the front edge and inch forward until your bum is hovering just off the edge of the seat. Your feet should be flat on the ground and your legs bent with thighs parallel to the floor. Straighten your arms — this is the starting position. Lower your body toward the floor until your arms are at a 90-degree angle before engaging your triceps to push yourself back up to the starting position. That’s one rep.
Primary muscles: Triceps, shoulders
Cracking core (crunch)
Love them or hate them, no workout is complete without crunches. Just remember that the aim is to work your core, not strain your neck.
Instructions: Start by lying on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Place both your hands lightly on the back of your head without interlocking your fingers. Engage your core by tucking your pelvis and bringing your ribcage down. Keep your chin tucked as if you were holding an egg under your chin. Squeeze your abs and curl your shoulders off the floor, pausing at the top for one second before slowly lowering back to the starting position. Keep your core engaged the whole time without releasing tension until you have completed a full set.
Primary muscles: Abs
You’re finished! Who’s treating themselves to a chocolate egg or two after that workout?
If you enjoyed your Easter workout, check out our range of fitness classes available at David Lloyd Clubs.
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