Five Minute Workouts

But not all five minute exercises are created equal, so we asked two resident fitness experts to come up with their best plans. Here are two takes - a bodyweight conditioning circuit and a yoga program.

Ben Greenfield, Fitness and Triathlon expert, Get-Fit Guy podcast host:
"Let's face it - if you have a very short period of time to exercise, you're unlikely to have access to fancy gym equipment or fitness devices. So for brief workouts, you're best served by your own body weight."

Try this circuit:

• 25 jumping jacks
• 20 crunches
• 15 slow, controlled squats
• 10 slow, controlled pushups
• 10 burpees (squat-thrust-jumps)

"I believe something is always better than nothing! You can get your heart rate up, sculpt some muscle and even stretch out your entire body in five minutes with five rounds of Sun Salutations."

"An interval workout that combines burpees and reverse plank: it targets muscular strength, power, stability and endurance in the entire body and includes 'cardio' as well. This can be done by doing the burpees for 15-20 seconds and holding the reverse plank for 25-40 seconds for a combined five to nine rounds."