20-Minute Beginner Interval Workout

This 20-minute beginner interval workout is perfect if you’re new to exercising or have taken a long time off and want to get back into a routine. Minimal equipment is required (just a set of weights), so it’s perfect to do at home.

I don’t post a ton of workouts geared specifically towards beginners (check out my last one here), because in ALL my videos I do give modifications so that every workout can be scaled down as needed. That being said, my beginner tabata workout has over 17,000 views on YouTube, so I think that’s a sign today’s routine is way overdue! If you guys like these beginner-friendly workouts, be sure to let me know in the comments on the blog or YouTube and I’ll keep ’em coming more frequently.

20-Minute Beginner Interval Workout

Video is sponsored by MegaFood and one of my favorite products of theirs: Blood Builder. All opinions—as always!—are my own. I appreciate your support of the brands that make this blog possible. 🙂

EQUIPMENT I USED:

• Set of 10-lb dumbbells (use a weight that works for you; 5 lbs is a great place to start!)
• Exercise mat
• Chair or bench for modifying (optional but recommended if mobility issues prevent you from getting down to the floor and back up again repeatedly)

For this workout, we’ll be doing 40 seconds of work and 20 seconds of rest. You have six exercises that you’ll go through three times (18 minutes total). We’ll then rest for 60 seconds and finish up the workout with a minute of modified burpees.

As with all workouts, make sure to properly warm up beforehand. I have a 5-minute warm up on my YouTube channel you can do, or just do one on your own. Always listen to your body, modifying or stopping as needed. In the video, I explain how to modify every exercise as we go through the workout.

EXERCISE BREAKDOWN

Side-to-Side Lunges | From a standing position, step your right foot out wide to the side, bending your right knee and sliding the hips back as you lunge down and reach your opposite left hand across your body to the floor by your right foot. Push off your right side to return to standing. repeat over to the left.

TO MODIFY: Instead of reaching your hand all the way to the floor, stretch it across your body at chest height.

Jumping Jacks | As you jump your feet out wide, swing your arms overhead. Continue jumping your feet in and out and your hands swish up and down.

TO MODIFY: Step instead of jump. From a standing position, step your right leg out to the side as you bring your right arm overhead. Return to center and repeat on the left. Continue alternating.

Reverse Lunge, Curl to Press | Hold a weight in each hand down at your sides. Step your left foot back behind you, bending the right knee into a lunge. At the bottom of your lunge, do a bicep curl and then a shoulder press. Reverse the movement and stand.

TO MODIFY: Use a chair for balance. Your right hand will hold on to the chair as you lunge back, and do the curl and press with just the left arm.

Reverse Lunge, Curl to Press on other side

Russian Twists | Holding a weight with both hands, sit on your bum, leaning back and hovering your feet of the floor. Twist side to side, bringing the weight to the outside of each hip.

TO MODIFY: If on the floor, place your heels lightly on the ground. If mobility issues prevent you from getting to the ground, sit in a chair and twist from there.

Bird Dog | Who named this exercise? Why is it called Bird Dog? Is it even called Bird Dog or did I make that up years ago and now just foolishly believe it to be true?! Anyway … start in a tabletop position on the floor. From here, reach your opposite leg and arm out long. Pause and then return to starting tabletop. Repeat on the other side.

TO MODIFY: If mobility issues prevent you from getting to the ground, place hands on a bench or chair so that you’re in an incline plank position. From here, lift up one leg at a time.

WEARING | DYI leggings / Puma tank (old) / adidas sneakers

Before I end this post, a little PSA: You should totally subscribe to my YouTube channel. 😉 While I get that it’s not completely necessary because I do always embed the videos on the blog as well, there are some definite perks to being a subscriber. My videos usually go live there hours (or even days) before they’re up on the blog and you’ll get an email notification when they do.