
E.M.O.M. 20-Minute Bodyweight Workout
Equipment Needed: None — bodyweight only.
Warm Up: Begin with 5–10 minutes of light cardio and dynamic mobility: walk or jog in place, perform high knees, butt kicks, jumping jacks, and air squats while reaching your arms overhead to prepare hips, shoulders, and core.
Description: Set a 20-minute timer. This EMOM (Every Minute On the Minute) alternates two circuits: complete the listed exercises on odd minutes and the even-minute circuit on even minutes. Finish each set within the minute; any remaining seconds are your rest. Maintain steady effort and scale repetitions or range of motion as needed.
ODD MINUTE CIRCUIT
7 Belly Flop Burpees
- Stand with feet slightly wider than hip-width, weight in your heels and chest up.
- Lower into a squat while keeping your chest lifted and knees tracking over toes.
- Place your hands on the floor and jump or step back into a high plank.
- Keeping core tight, lower your chest all the way to the floor in a controlled push-up motion; drop to your knees if needed.
- Release your hands briefly when your chest meets the ground, then replant them near your chest and press back up to high plank (options: full push-up or knees).
- Jump or step your feet forward to the low squat position, then drive through your heels to stand and squeeze your glutes. Optionally, add a small clap overhead as you rise.
- That sequence is one rep. Move at a steady, controlled pace and focus on full range of motion rather than speed if you need to scale.
10 Plank Pointers
- Start in high plank with shoulders over wrists, fingers spread and engaged. Pull your kneecaps up slightly and press heels back to create full-body tension.
- Keep a straight line from head to heels, neutral neck, and braced core.
- Lift your right leg while simultaneously reaching your left arm forward, balancing through the torso.
- Return to plank, then switch sides—left leg and right arm.
- Move deliberately; increase speed only if your hips remain level and your core stays engaged.
- Plank pointers build shoulder stability, core strength, and balance—maintain quality over quantity.
14 Front Lunges & Lat Pull
- Stand with feet shoulder-width apart in an athletic stance.
- Step forward into a large lunge with your left foot, arms reaching overhead, palms facing forward.
- Lower into the lunge while bending your elbows to engage the upper back, squeezing the shoulder blades together as if performing a lat pull.
- At the bottom, both knees should form about 90-degree angles; keep the front knee behind the toes and chest upright.
- Drive off the front foot to return to standing. That completes one rep.
- Alternate legs each repetition. Use controlled tempo to protect the knee and maintain back engagement throughout the movement.
EVEN MINUTE CIRCUIT
7 Lateral Bound + Chair Jump
- Begin in an athletic stance with knees slightly bent and feet shoulder-width apart.
- Push off your right leg and bound laterally to land softly on your left leg.
- Plant both feet briefly, drop into a squat, then explode upward into a chair jump (a vertical hop, driving the hips forward).
- Land softly, transfer weight to the other leg, and repeat the lateral bound to the opposite side.
- Each lateral bound followed immediately by a chair jump counts as one rep. Focus on soft landings and hip drive to reduce impact.
- Scale by reducing jump height or performing step-over lateral movements if needed for mobility or joint concerns.
10 Push-Up + Knee Drive
- Assume a high plank with shoulders stacked over wrists, core braced and body in a straight line.
- Lower chest toward the floor, keeping elbows close to your sides for a triceps-focused push-up.
- Press back up to plank and immediately drive your right knee toward your chest or toward your right elbow.
- Perform the next push-up and drive the left knee on the following rep, alternating sides.
- Each push-up plus knee drive is one rep. Modify by sending knees to the chest from a kneeling push-up if needed.
- This combo targets pressing strength, core control, and explosive hip drive when performed with intent.
14 Squat + Reach
- Stand with feet slightly wider than hip-width, toes facing forward.
- Sink back into a squat, keeping weight in your heels, chest lifted and core engaged.
- Drive through your heels to stand and reach both arms overhead. Pause briefly at the top, maintaining a strong core and long spine.
- That is one rep. Repeat for the prescribed number of repetitions while keeping movement smooth and controlled.
Training tips: Maintain steady breathing throughout—exhale during exertion and inhale on the return. Focus on form before increasing speed. If a full movement is too intense, use scaled versions (step-backs instead of jumps, knee push-ups, reduced jump height). Rest as needed and track your time within each minute so you can progress by adding reps, improving form, or increasing tempo over subsequent sessions.
Cool-down suggestion: After the 20-minute EMOM, spend 5–10 minutes stretching hips, hamstrings, chest, shoulders, and lower back to aid recovery. Light walking and deep breathing will help your heart rate return to baseline.
Disclaimer: Always consult your doctor before beginning a new fitness program. While Lee from Fit Foodie Finds and Monique from Ambitious Kitchen worked with a professional trainer to design the Summer Sweat Series exercise program, you participate at your own risk. Listen to your body and modify exercises as needed.