BACK TO BASICS

When it comes to working out, sometimes you need to strip things right back

- 

Often the best approach is the simplest. Especially if you haven't exercised for a while and the gym is feeling a bit daunting. Here's a home-based, strength-training routine based around a solid foundation of exercises that work each part of your body. If you can focus mostly on this handful of staple moves, you'll notice that they'll start to feel easier with time, which leads to feeling stronger, fitter and confident enough to start progressing and experimenting by adding dumbbells, different variations or trying completely new exercises altogether. Getting fitter and stronger only takes some fundamental moves, consistency and patience. Here's how to get started.

• Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart (A).

• Lower your hips into a squat as you bend your knees and keep your back flat.

• Continue to lower yourself until your thighs are parallel or almost parallel to the floor (B).

• Push into the floor through your heels to return to start.

• Complete 2 sets of 20 reps.

Once you've mastered your form, add weight by holding a bar or dumbbells in front of your shoulders (front squat), resting a barbell on your back shoulders (back squat) or holding a weight at you chest (goblet squat).

To do this workout

Work through the moves and perform each for the required reps and sets before moving onto the next. Take 2-3 minutes' rest between each move and work through at your own level.

GLUTE BRIDGE▾