9 Ways to Tone Your Body Without Boring Gym Workouts

black femme stretching — STUDIO FIRMA / Stocksy

Committing to a five-day-a-week workout routine can be quite a challenge. While some individuals find solace and stress relief in regular exercise, unfortunately, I don't fall into that category. Carving out time for the gym and figuring out how to tone my body has never been a top priority for me. Nevertheless, my desire to be healthy, look toned, and feel good persists.

In search of alternatives that don't involve turning the gym into my second home, I sought expert advice from fitness instructors on how to tone my body effectively. With their help, I discovered nine easy ways to tone up without making a major commitment.

Keep reading for tips on how to tone your body and improve your fitness without feeling tied to a rigid exercise routine.

Meet the Expert

Amy Rosoff Davis - celebrity trainer, health and wellness coach who has worked with Selena Gomez, Kristen Bell and Miranda Kerr, and more.

Carly Rowena - Fitness coach, founder of the Moodment App, and author of "My Beautiful Body."

01 of 09

Mix It Up

black femme exercising — Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images

Amy Rosoff Davis, fitness expert and Selena Gomez's longtime trainer, notes that you should listen to your body and add a lot of variety to your routine. "This is something everyone should do when it comes to working out. Sometimes, just do yoga and stretching, and other times, hit it hard,” she says. “Working out, just like life, should be a balance." Mixing up your workouts with different types of exercise will help you develop a well-rounded fitness base, prevent overuse injuries, and keep things fun and fresh. So long, workout boredom!

02 of 09

Walk Everywhere

Woman walking in city — Melodie Jean / Getty Images

"Walking is one of the best ways to get your body moving, and unlike metabolic training or HIIT, walking adds very little training stress to the body, which results in a higher ratio of fat burn,” explains trainer Carly Rowena. “This is because low-intensity exercises such as walking rely more heavily on fat reserves [instead of stored carbohydrates] for completion. Also, when [we] walk, our deep abdominal fat is the first to go, which is something we all want." Just remember to wear comfortable, but supportive, shoes.

03 of 09

Be Realistic

"Try making a specific plan with goals that are realistic and attainable,” suggests Hannah Bronfman, a fitness enthusiast who used to struggle with finding the motivation to work out. “If you make a plan and really dedicate yourself to it, the results will follow. Good things come to people who hustle!" Instead of trying to commit to exercising six days a week for an hour, start with something more approachable, like three days a week for 20 minutes. You’ll be more likely to accomplish your goal, which builds momentum, confidence, and a sense of achievement that can motivate you to keep going.

04 of 09

Find a Set of Stairs

black femme in stairwell — KATERINA KOUZMITCHEVA / Stocksy

Michael Olajide Jr., the creator of AERO boxing workouts, says that stairs can provide great exercise. Not only should you skip the elevator and opt for taking the stairs whenever possible, but he also suggests using them for calf raises. "Step up onto each stair and drop your heels—then raise up as high as you can and drop below again," he explains. "This easy exercise tones your calf muscles, which is super important for running and cycling. Calves are often neglected, so this is a perfect one to do on the go."

05 of 09

Trick Your Brain

black androgynous athlete — Clique Images / Stocksy

Sometimes we have every intention to go to the gym to lift weights after work or stream a bodyweight HIIT circuit from home before dinner, but life gets in the way. Or, let's face it, we talk ourselves out of it and opt for streaming a Netflix show instead. Fitness instructor Tanya Poppett has a solution: "Exercise in the morning before your brain figures out what you're doing," she says. By the time you're awake and alert, you'll be through the warmup and already enjoying the endorphins. Win.

06 of 09

Commit to Just 20 Minutes a Day

latina taking a break from workout — W2 PHOTOGRAPHY / Stocksy

Consider Tabata, a type of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). In just four minutes, you can have a huge physical impact. Next commercial break, set a timer on your phone and do eight rounds of any sort of exercise for 20 seconds, with 10 seconds of recovery in between. Squats, jumping jacks, push-ups, sprinting in place, burpees, and jump squats are all great options. Or clear off the clothes hanging on your Spin bike (that perhaps has been repurposed as a coat rack) and hop on for your intervals. You'll get your heart pumping, muscles working, and endorphins flowing before your show is back on. Try to do several rounds throughout the day, or aim for a single, continuous 20-minute HIIT workout.

07 of 09

Start Slow

Beginning with something doable will make exercise more approachable and less intimidating. Faith Xue, our former editorial director, suggests that if you're not exactly a yoga master yet, ease yourself into the practice with Hatha yoga before diving into Vinyasa. "It's perfect for yoga newbies, anyone who may be recovering from an injury, or someone with a condition like arthritis," she explains.

08 of 09

Stretch

Though we often neglect stretching, staying flexible can prevent aches and injuries, and a simple routine doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming, either. "My top tip for toned shoulders is good posture, which involves proper stretching. I recommend a chest stretch to elongate the pecs and upper trapezius,” says Dalton Wong, Jennifer Lawrence’s trainer and the founder of TwentyTwo Training. “With your back straight, raise your arms to create a T-shape with your body. Squeeze your shoulder blades and keep your core engaged, and hold the move for about one minute to fully stretch out your shoulders."

Byrdie Tip

If you sit for most of the day, also be sure to stretch your hip flexors and quads.

09 of 09

Start Punching

black femme boxing outside — GARAGE ISLAND CREW / Stocksy

Olajide shared another one of his favorite moves to tone the upper body—it might also get out some of that pent-up stress. "Grab light [1- to 2-pound] hand weights and stand shoulder-width apart, keeping your abs and core tight. Punch out in a straight line, alternating fists—this is great for toning up your chest and shoulders,” he says. Aim for 30-60 seconds fast and hard. Then rest for 30 seconds, and repeat for 8-10 sets.

This 15-Minute Bodyweight Workout Will Tone Your Body in Just 3 Weeks