The 12 Days of Fitness-It's a Holiday HIIT!

We’re not talking about the Olympics or the Reindeer Games. Nope. We are talking about 12 days of working out during the holidays, so you can stay on track amongst the celebratory cakes, cookies, pies, and nogs.

’Tis the season for emphasizing quick, functional workouts; it can be a little tricky to get any exercise from the end of November through January, so it is fun to challenge yourself with The 12 Days of Fitness. Just complete the moves below once per week or during your holiday weekend.. This workout is designed to be virtually equipment free and of medium to high intensity. Modify as needed depending on your fitness level, intensity needs…or faith. For those who celebrate Chanukah, you’ll do “Eight Crazy Nights,” which is the same workout but with eight reps and three sets for eight days.

STAR JUMPS
These star jumps will lead you into this workout nicely! Start with your legs bent at the knees. Then, explode up as high as possible, spreading your arms and legs away from the body. When landing, keep bending your knees until you can touch the floor either side of you with your hands.

NUTCRACKER BURPEES
Start standing, feet hip-width apart, arms straight overhead. Bend your knees to squat down and place your hands between your feet, then step back into plank position. Next, step your feet back up to your hands, then jump up, raising arms overhead.

TRICEP PRESS-ENTS
Lie on your left side, hips and knees stacked, knees slightly bent. Wrap your left arm around your torso, bracing yourself with your right hand planted on the ground in front of your chest. Push against the floor, engaging your triceps to lift and lower your torso. Repeat on opposite side.

SLEIGH-BELL SWINGS
A full body exercise, the kettlebell (or sleigh bell!) swing not only builds strength, but also improves your posture, cardiovascular fitness, and athletic ability. Place the kettlebell on the floor between your feet, and squat down to grab the handle with both hands. Stand back up with the weight, keeping your shoulders back, and back straight.

Driving through your heels, push from your hips to send the weight swinging upwards to around chest height. As it descends, let the kettlebell do the work as you smoothly transition into the next swing, hinging at the hips in every rep.

SNOW ANGELS
Lie facedown on the floor, arms and legs fully extended, neck long, eyes to the ground. Engage your back and glute muscles as you lift your arms, legs and forehead off the ground. Sweep your arms and legs out to the side, and back, as if you are making a snow angel. Return to starting position.

REINDEER KICKS
Get down on your hands and knees. Keeping your core tight, back straight and face down, kick back with one leg, squeezing the glutes. Bend the knee and lower the leg to return to the starting position. Repeat with the opposite leg for one rep.

TREE BALANCES
Balance on your left leg, right foot resting on your left calf, hands in prayer position in front of your chest (this is called tree pose). Step out with your right leg into a plié squat position, return to tree pose. Repeat on opposite side.

OVERHEAD PRESS-ENTS
Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, hold a pair of dumbbells at shoulder level, with your arms bent and palms facing each other. Then. Bracing your abs, press the weights above your head until your arms are straight. Return the dumbbells to your shoulders to complete one rep.

LATERAL LUNGE WRAPS
Stand straight with feet hip-width apart, arms straight out in a T. Step out to the right with your right foot into a lateral lunge, wrapping your left arm behind your back and your right arm around your stomach. Return to standing, bringing arms back to T position.

ROCKETTE BRIDGES
Lie on the floor, arms by your sides, feet hip-width apart. Keeping your arms on the floor, engage your glutes to lift your hips off the ground. At the top of your bridge, lift your right leg up into the air. Lower to the ground and repeat on opposite side.

LEAPING LUNGES
From a standing position, bend your left knee and lift it towards your chest, before stepping out into forward lunge. Return to standing by pushing off your left leg, and lifting your left knee towards your chest again, before lowering your foot to the ground.

DRUMMER SQUATS
Perform jump squats (or regular squats) while drumming your hands in the air in front of your torso.

TOY SOLDIERS
Stand tall, arms lifted overhead. Keeping your left leg straight, lift it up as high as you can, reaching across your body to touch your toes with your right hand. Repeat on opposite side.

Make the 12 Days of Fitness a holiday tradition. And let us know how it goes in the comments below!