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10 Knee-Friendly Lower-Body Toners

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Knee pain holding you back? Sculpt your buns, hips, and thighs with these easy-on-the-joints alternatives to squats and lunges   Deadlifts Deadlifts are an excellent exercise to strengthen your entire backside (glutes, hamstrings, back) while also engaging your core, without putting too much pressure on your knees and hips. How to do it : Grab a pair of dumbbells and stand with your feet hip-width apart, palms facing your thighs. Push your hips back behind you as you slowly bend forward from your hips, stopping when your torso is parallel to the ground (or when you feel a stretch in your hamstrings). Return to standing, keeping back straight and abs tight. Try up to 3 sets of 15 reps. Bridges Floor bridges target your glutes, hamstrings, and abs while placing minimal pressure on the knees and hips. How to do it: Lie faceup with knees bent, hip-width apart, feet flexed (pull toes up towards shins and off the floor), and arms by your sides. Brace you
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At-Home Barre Workout

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Seven ballet-inspired moves to lift, lengthen, and tone - tutu optional Embrace Your Inner Ballerina With devotees like Madonna, Kelly Ripa, and Natalie Portman, it's not surprising that women everywhere are flocking to barre workout classes. But it's not just Hollywood hype! Ballet-inspired workouts are a great way to develop lean muscle mass while improving your balance, flexibility, and range of motion. The only downside: Some classes come with a high price tag. To help you get in on the barre craze on any budget, we asked Miami-based fitness expert Jessica Smith to create an at-home, ballet-inspired routine that will help lift, lengthen, and tone your entire body. Workout details : Do 1 set of the recommended number of reps for each move, moving from one to the next with little rest in between. Depending on how much time (and energy) you have, repeat the full circuit 1, 2, or 3 times total. You’ll need: A sturdy, high back chair and a set of light hand
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