The Floor

Your bedroom is a big enough gym

Fifteen moves, zero equipment, most of them fit in a space the size of a towel. Pick a few, build a circuit and hit play. The NHS target is 60 active minutes a day plus strength work three days a week — this is how you chip away at it when you can't get outside.

Before you start

  • Clear the space: no coffee tables, cables or pets under your feet.
  • Shoes on or bare feet — socks on wooden floors are how people slide into walls.
  • Water bottle within reach. Sip between moves.
  • Sharp pain, dizziness or can't-speak breathlessness = stop and tell a grown-up.
  • Never train through a bad ankle, wrist or headache. Rest days build you too.
🚶

High-knee march

Warm up · 45s · Tiny space

  1. 1Stand tall, arms bent.
  2. 2March on the spot, knee to hip height.
  3. 3Swap arms with each knee.

Form check: Stay light on your feet — land toe first, not with a slam.

Level up: Speed it up for the last 15 seconds.

🌀

Arm circles

Warm up · 30s · Tiny space

  1. 1Arms straight out to the sides.
  2. 2Small circles forward for 15 seconds.
  3. 3Reverse for 15.

Form check: Shoulders down, not up by your ears.

Level up: Make the circles bigger, not faster.

🐈

Cat–cow rolls

Warm up · 40s · Room to move

  1. 1Hands and knees.
  2. 2Arch your back up like a cat.
  3. 3Then dip it slowly and look ahead.

Form check: Move with your breath — slow beats big.

Level up: Add a gentle side-to-side sway.

Star jumps

Heart raisers · 40s · Room to move

  1. 1Feet together, arms down.
  2. 2Jump feet wide and arms overhead.
  3. 3Jump back in.

Form check: Soft knees on every landing. Downstairs neighbours? Do the step-out version.

Level up: Half-speed but bigger for 10 reps, then fast for 10.

🥊

Shadow boxing

Heart raisers · 45s · Tiny space

  1. 1Hands up by your chin.
  2. 2Punch straight out, one at a time.
  3. 3Keep your feet bouncing.

Form check: Don't lock your elbow at the end of the punch.

Level up: Add two ducks every ten punches.

🪜

Stair or step-ups

Heart raisers · 60s · Tiny space

  1. 1Use the bottom stair or a low sturdy step.
  2. 2Step up, up, down, down.
  3. 3Swap the leading leg halfway.

Form check: Whole foot on the step. Hold the rail if you want to.

Level up: Same speed, add 20 seconds.

🪑

Chair squats

Strength · 45s · Tiny space

  1. 1Stand in front of a chair, feet hip-width.
  2. 2Sit back slowly until you touch it.
  3. 3Stand back up.

Form check: Knees track over your toes, chest up.

Level up: Pause for two seconds at the bottom.

🧱

Wall or knee push-ups

Strength · 40s · Tiny space

  1. 1Hands on a wall (easier) or floor with knees down.
  2. 2Lower with control.
  3. 3Push away.

Form check: Body in one straight line — no sagging hips.

Level up: Move your feet further from the wall.

📏

Forearm plank

Strength · 25s · Room to move

  1. 1Forearms down, elbows under shoulders.
  2. 2Knees down or feet back.
  3. 3Squeeze your tummy and hold.

Form check: Stop when your hips drop — quality over clock.

Level up: Add five seconds each week, not each day.

🌉

Glute bridges

Strength · 40s · Room to move

  1. 1Lie on your back, knees bent, feet flat.
  2. 2Push through your heels and lift your hips.
  3. 3Lower slowly.

Form check: Ribs down — lift with your hips, not your back.

Level up: Hold the top for three seconds.

🦩

Stork holds

Balance & agility · 40s · Tiny space

  1. 1Stand on one foot.
  2. 2Other foot resting on your calf (never the knee).
  3. 3Swap at 20 seconds.

Form check: Fix your eyes on one spot — balance follows your eyes.

Level up: Close one eye. Then try both.

🦘

Line hops

Balance & agility · 30s · Tiny space

  1. 1Put a towel or tape line on the floor.
  2. 2Hop side to side over it.
  3. 3Then front to back.

Form check: Small, quick, quiet hops.

Level up: One foot only, ten hops each side.

🦀

Crab walk

Balance & agility · 35s · Room to move

  1. 1Sit, hands behind you, lift your hips.
  2. 2Walk forwards four steps.
  3. 3Walk back four steps.

Form check: Keep your hips up the whole way.

Level up: Add a sideways lap.

🌿

Reach and fold

Cool down · 40s · Tiny space

  1. 1Reach both arms up high.
  2. 2Fold slowly towards your toes.
  3. 3Roll back up one bone at a time.

Form check: Bend your knees a little — never bounce a stretch.

Level up: Hold the fold for a slow count of ten.

🫁

Box breathing

Cool down · 60s · Tiny space

  1. 1Breathe in for 4.
  2. 2Hold for 4.
  3. 3Out for 4, hold for 4. Repeat.

Form check: Breathe into your belly, not your shoulders.

Level up: Try five full rounds with your eyes shut.