Skip to main content Tom's Guide Tom's Guide Search Tom's Guide View Profile Newsletters Best Picks Entertainment Switch 2 Pre-Orders iPhone 17 Air Best laptops Best Mattress Wordle Today Forget the gym — this 10-minute Pilates workout sculpts strong legs in 9 exercises Jane McGuire 28 April 2025 Grab your exercise mat and give this a go When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Shutterstock) As well as blasting your core, Pilates can help you build strong, lean muscles all over your body. If you thought you needed to head to the gym to lift heavy weights to strengthen your lower body, think again — this 10-minute Pilates workout can help you sculpt strong legs in just nine exercises. All you’ll need is your bodyweight and enough motivation to survive that deep Pilates shake. Read on to find out more. As a reminder, if you’re new to exercise or returning to exercise following a pregnancy or injury, it’s always a good idea to check your form with a personal trainer beforehand. Moving with bad form can put you at risk of injury. You may like Forget the gym — this 15-minute Pilates workout with weights sculpts your entire body from home Forget the gym — you just need 5 moves to build lower body strength and boost your metabolism What is the workout? The workout, devised by Pilates instructor and Lean app founder Lilly Sabri, focuses on the lower body using some classic Pilates techniques. You can set your best adjustable dumbbells and ankle weights to one side, as you’ll just use your bodyweight here. There are nine different exercises in total, which you’ll do for one minute, followed by a 10-second rest. There’s a mix of squats, lunges, and those all-important pulses, which help keep your muscles engaged throughout. The majority of the workout is completed in a standing position, however, you will lie down on your mat for the final two minutes. Like all of Sabri’s workouts, she offers form pointers and modifications for beginners throughout, so it’s worth listening and following along with her for the workout, or putting the audio captions on. The workout is suitable for all levels of fitness, and I didn’t expect my legs to burn so much after just 10 minutes, making it a great one to fit in on your lunch break. 10 Min Pilates Legs | At Home Workout to Shape, Tone & Burn - YouTube What are the benefits? There are a huge number of benefits when it comes to Pilates, but this workout in particular is great for working on your lower body and core strength. Like all Pilates workouts, you’ll need to keep your core engaged throughout to really move with good form — think about sucking your belly button into your spine, or bracing your abs as if you’re about to get punched. Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Pilates can help prevent injuries as it helps balance the muscles in the body. Whether you’re a runner, like me, or a cyclist, you’ll probably have one stronger side to your body. You’ll be able to tell as exercises will feel easier or steadier on one side. Pilates is fantastic for addressing these imbalances, as it targets those deep stabilizing muscles and builds dynamic strength. This, in turn, can help prevent injuries in the future. As well as building muscle, Pilates works on your balance, posture, flexibility, and mobility. All of these are important in your day-to-day life, not just your athletic performance. This is a fantastic 10-minute leg blast to add to your next workout, or try in between meetings, with zero equipment needed. Just be prepared for your legs to ache when you sit back down at your desk. More from Tom's Guide No gym, no problem — this 35-minute Pilates workout builds full-body strength and tones your core I tried this 3-move shoulder workout — here’s what happened to my upper body Ditch sit-ups — strengthen and define your core with 1 dumbbell and this 5-move ab workout Today's best Dumbbells deals PowerTRC Adjustable Dumbell for Kids $13.89View See all prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Jane McGuire Social Links Navigation Fitness editor Jane McGuire is Tom's Guide's Fitness editor, which means she looks after everything fitness related - from running gear to yoga mats. An avid runner, Jane has tested and reviewed fitness products for the past five years, so knows what to look for when finding a good running watch or a pair of shorts with pockets big enough for your smartphone. When she's not pounding the pavements, you'll find Jane striding round the Surrey Hills, taking far too many photos of her puppy. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. Forget the gym — this 15-minute Pilates workout with weights sculpts your entire body from home Forget the gym — you just need 5 moves to build lower body strength and boost your metabolism Drop the weights! This 30-minute no-equipment Pilates workout will carve out a stronger core from home Forget sit-ups — build core strength and boost your mobility in just 15 minutes with this Pilates routine No, not sit-ups — this Pilates workout uses 5 exercises to build a stronger core and boost your balance Who needs weights? This Pilates workout will strengthen your entire body in just 10 minutes Latest in Fitness London Marathon organizers issue heat alert for Sunday's race — here’s how 3 elite runners plan to stay cool I'm running the London Marathon — here are the shoes, watches and fueling products I’m using Do you find lunges uncomfortable? I've ditched them for Cossack squats and watched my lower-body strength, mobility and stability transform Forget the gym — this 10-minute Pilates workout sculpts strong legs in 9 exercises I just tried this leg workout from Carrie Underwood’s trainer — and it’s no joke No, not downward dog — unstick your shoulders with this 1-minute mobility exercise from a personal trainer Latest in Features The Apple Watch turns 10 — 5 reasons the OG smartwatch is still my favorite I gave Memory Movies another try 6 months after Apple Intelligence arrived — here’s what I’ve found I use Perplexity every day — here are 7 prompts I can't live without How important are TV refresh rates and how high do you really need? 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