How is it already Thursday? The week flew by so fast I can hardly believe it felt like Monday just a moment ago.
One reason time has moved quickly for me this week is the variety of workouts I’ve squeezed in. ClassPass recently launched in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, and I’ve been enjoying the membership. For $79 a month you gain access to many boutique studios with a few visits allowed each month, which makes it easy to try different classes without committing to a single studio. So far I’ve sampled Barre Bliss and Pellicano Endurance Coaching, both in St. Louis Park. Between the two, the group strength class at Pellicano was my favorite — it was challenging, had a CrossFit-style intensity, and left me sweaty and satisfied. Barre Bliss felt gentler, which is fine, but I tend to prefer workouts that make me sweat.
I also go regularly to Surge Cycling (my top pick for spin studios) and use LA Fitness since it’s the closest gym to home. I teach at CorePower Yoga and attend those classes often as well. If there’s a pattern, it’s that I’m definitely a studio fitness enthusiast: I enjoy variety, structure, and the energy of group classes.
After running a short reader survey last month, I received requests for more 15–20 minute workouts that can be done when you’re traveling or short on time. Short workouts are perfect when you want something efficient but intense — a quick, focused session that still leaves you sweaty and energized. Plyometric and interval training are ideal for this: they ramp your heart rate up quickly, give you a brief recovery, and repeat to maximize calorie burn and cardiovascular conditioning in a short window.
Below is a compact, effective 15-minute plyometric workout I used over the holidays while visiting Kansas. It’s simple to follow, requires no equipment, and targets cardio, lower body power, and core strength.
15-Minute Fat Blasting Workout
Format: perform each exercise for 45 seconds, then rest 15 seconds. Repeat the circuit 3 times (or more if you have the time and energy).
- Burpees: Start standing with feet hip-width apart. Bend forward, place your hands on the floor, and jump your feet back into a plank. Return your feet to your hands, come into a low squat, then explode up into a jump. Land softly with knees slightly bent. Move steadily and control the transitions — quality over speed will reduce injury risk and increase effectiveness.
- Single-Leg Jump Lunges (right side): Begin in a lunge with your right leg forward, both knees bent at roughly 90 degrees. Keep your torso upright and core engaged. Use your arms for momentum and explode upward, switching slightly as you jump, then land softly back into the right-forward lunge position. Focus on landing quietly to absorb impact through the muscles rather than your joints.
- High to Forearm Plank: Start in a high plank with shoulders over wrists and body in a straight line from head to heels. Lower your right forearm to the floor, then the left, coming into a forearm plank while keeping hips level. Press back up to a high plank by placing the right palm then the left. Maintain a long spine and avoid letting your hips sag or pike — keep the core active and breathe evenly.
- Single-Leg Jump Lunges (left side): Mirror the movement from the right side. Begin with the left leg forward in a 90/90 lunge. Keep the chest lifted and core tight. Use both legs to push off for a small, controlled jump and return to the left-forward lunge on landing. Balance and soft landings are key to protecting your knees and ankles.
- Jump Squat + Heel Tap: Stand with feet hip-width apart and lower into a squat with weight in your heels and chest up. Explode upward into a jump, bringing your heels together to tap briefly at the top if that feels comfortable. Land softly back into a squat and immediately move into the next repetition. This combo builds lower-body power and elevates heart rate quickly.