When it comes to effortless, feel-good fitness, few do it quite like Denise Austin. And just in time for warmer weather, the 69-year-old wellness icon has shared a quick and effective leg-toning routine that promises to leave you feeling strong, sculpted and ready for summer.
Taking to Instagram, Denise revealed two simple moves designed to fire up the legs, boost energy and get the heart rate going, all without the need for any equipment.
© Instagram“I love these moves to really firm up your legs and get everything feeling strong and sculpted. And GET READY to wear our shorts again with summer coming,” she wrote, adding that the routine also offers a surprising extra benefit.
“A little bit of jumping can be so helpful for your bones too! It’s a great way to support bone density as we age… These moves will get your heart rate up, fire up those leg muscles, and have you feeling GREAT and ENERGETIC in no time!”
© Getty Images for Sports IllustraThe beauty of Denise’s workout lies in its simplicity. Each move is performed for just one minute, making it easy to slot into even the busiest of days.
The first exercise, high knee jumps, begins with one foot positioned slightly in front of the other.
From there, you lift your back knee towards your chest while swinging your arms in opposition, adding a small hop with your standing leg before returning to the starting position in a gentle rocking motion. “Lift the chest up and lift through the legs,” Denise advises, encouraging good posture throughout.
© NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via GeNext comes jumping side lunges. Starting in a wide stance, you bend one knee and twist your upper body to reach the opposite arm towards it, before switching sides with a small hop. “Go side to side… you have to jump a little bit,” she explains, keeping the movement dynamic and engaging.
Denise began her career with fitness guru Jack LaLanne in 1981, and created countless upbeat, fun aerobics videos and DVDs to help people get moving.
© WireImageShe was also the Today show's resident fitness expert from 1984 to 1988, and went on to sell more than 24 million copies of her videos.
The mother of two authored 12 fitness books and even served as a member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports during George W. Bush's presidency.
