The 40 Best Bodyweight Exercises [For All Fitness Levels]

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Who says you need to run on a treadmill or lift heavy weights to get your workout in? There are numerous ways to challenge your body and build strength muscularly and cardiovascularly with just your body itself. 

After all, your body isn’t exactly light. Here are the 40 best bodyweight exercises you can start today. 

Bodyweight Exercises to Build Muscular Strength

LOWER BODY

1. Squat (modification: box squat)
2. Forward Lunge (modification: reverse lunge, stationary lunge)
3. Pistol Squat (modification: single leg box squat)
4. Single-Leg Deadlift (modification: staggered stance deadlift)
5. Step-Ups (modification: use a step lower in height)
6. Lateral Step Ups (modification: use a step lower in height)
7. Wall Sit
8. Sumo Squat
9. Lateral Lunge (modification: stationary lateral lunge)
10. Curtsy Lunge
11. Hip Bridge
12.  Single-Leg Hip Bridge

UPPER BODY

13.  Push Up (modification: elevated push-up, knee push-up)
14. T-Push Up (modification: drop knees to floor)
15. Plank Commando (modification: drop knees to floor)
16. Lateral Plank Walk (modification: hold plank + tap shoulders)
17. Down Dog Push Up
18. Hand Release Tricep Push Up (modification: drop knees to floor)
19. Tricep Dips (modification: bend knees, draw feet closer to hips)
20. Dolphin Push Up
21. Bear Crawl
22. Plank Toe Touch
23. Plank Corkscrew‍

Workout Idea: Choose 4-6 exercises from the lower body and/or upper body lists above. Perform 10-15 repetitions of each—complete 3-5 rounds. 

Bodyweight Exercises to Build Cardiovascular Strength

FULL BODY

24. Squat Jump (modification: no jump, lift heels instead)
25. Lunge Jump (modification: alternate reverse lunge)
26. Sumo Squat Jack (modification: no jump, step out side to side into squat)
27. Burpee (modification: remove the push; remove the jumps)
28. Skater Jump (modification: no jump, step side to side)
29. Fast Feet to Tuck Jump
30. Mountain Climber (modification: slow down, march knees to chest)
31. Runner’s Skip (modification: don’t step back as far in lunge, remove jump)
32. Donkey Kick (modification: make the jump smaller)
33. Jumping Jacks
34. In-Out Squat Jump (modification: no jump, step out and in)
35. Plank Jacks (modification: no jump, step out side to side)
36. Pike Hops (modification: no jump, walk feet forward and back)
37. High Knees (modification: march knees to chest)
38. Forward Jump (jog back)
39. 180 Squat Jumps
40. Side Shuffle

Workout Idea: Choose 4-6 exercises from the list above. Perform each for 30 seconds, resting for 15 seconds in between each exercise. Complete 3-5 rounds.

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Whew! What a line-up. If you aren’t already aware, you will soon realize, it takes loads of effort, strength and endurance to move your body without equipment. 

Enjoy these 40 exercises and have fun changing up your workouts with you, yourself and your body.

You might also be interested in: The Best Back Exercises [Baby Got Back]