The 5 Best Exercises You Can Ever Do (Spoiler: You're Probably Not Doing Them)

If you're not getting the most out of your workouts, it's time to shake things up. Not only will these five exercises help you build muscle and lose weight, but they'll also improve your everyday strength and even your balance. Best of all, they can be done anywhere with minimal equipment or prior training experience making them the perfect addition to any fitness routine.

1. Kettlebell Swing

For a kettlebell swing, you need a kettlebell and enough space to pull the weight from your legs to armpit height. It should feel like you are picking up something from the ground and bringing it to your chest or shoulder. Imagine someone has just told you something shocking that makes you jump in the air; this is how high the swing should go. 

This exercise works all parts of your body, including glutes, hamstrings, back, arms, and chest as well as burning a lot of calories.

2. Pull Ups

Pull-ups are one of the most commonly used exercises for back and arm strength. Studies show that a single set of six to eight repetitions, done three times a week, can give you upper-body strength comparable to what many athletes possess. If your shoulders bother you after pull-ups, focus on keeping your elbows in while doing them; it should alleviate the problem.

3. Front Squat

I could fill this whole blog post with different exercises, but I'll just stick to the ones that have had the biggest impact on my life and body. Squats are so important because they work out your entire body. A lot of people say they don't like squats because they feel too bulky or their knee pain. My opinion is that you need to take the time to learn how to do them properly.

4. Lunge

A key element of a strong core is the ability to stabilize it and move it. However, we don't use the abs very often in our everyday lives, so they can feel tight or not strong enough to do much more than holding your body upright. A great way to strengthen your core is by doing lunges. Lunge with both feet at a 45-degree angle out in front of you and bend at the hips until your knees form 90-degree angles.

5. Plank

Planking is one of the easiest exercises to master. All you need to do is lay on your stomach and prop yourself up on your toes and elbows, then hold it there for as long as you can. The more difficult variation of the plank pose is called the side plank and requires you to get into the same position but with one hand pressing against a wall.