Life is all about balance — so let\'s exercise it! This intermediate senior gym workout builds balance, muscle, and functional strength. Correct form is your number one priority today. Master the movement before increasing resistance. Seniors, focus and go!
Let\'s close out today by rotating each leg for 10 reps in a clockwise direction.
About this workout
Senior Gym Balance & Muscle Building Workout is a free 33 min workout plan with 9 illustrated exercises for your glutes & hip flexors, abs, ankles and arms. Follow the workout online, save it to your WorkoutLabs Fit account or download it as a printable PDF.
Tap any exercise in the workout to see the muscles worked, clear exercise illustrations and step-by-step instructions. Each workout includes sets, reps, rest times and notes so you can follow the plan without guessing.
Workout details
Duration: 33 min
Exercises: 9
Training focus: Glutes & hip flexors, abs, ankles and arms
You'll need full gym for this workout. Tap any exercise to see form instructions and possible substitutions if a piece of equipment isn't available.
How long does the Senior Gym Balance & Muscle Building Workout take?
The full workout takes about 33 minutes, covering 9 exercises with prescribed sets, reps and rest periods. Using the built-in timers and auto-advance keeps you on pace from start to finish.
Is this workout suitable for my fitness level?
This is an intermediate workout, best suited to people with some training experience. Beginners can still follow it by reducing the weight, doing fewer sets or resting longer between sets – each exercise includes illustrated form instructions.
What muscles does this workout target?
This routine primarily works your ankles, chest, shoulders, hamstrings, quadriceps, biceps. Tap any exercise in the workout to see a muscle diagram showing exactly which primary and secondary muscles it activates.
How often should I do this workout?
For gain muscle, get toned, aim to do this workout 2–3 times per week with at least one rest day between sessions. Progress by gradually adding weight or reps, and pair it with workouts for other muscle groups during the week.
Can I download or save this workout?
Yes – you can download this workout as a free printable PDF using the download button, or save it to a free WorkoutLabs Fit account to follow it on your phone, customize the exercises and track your progress.
More free glutes & hip flexors, abs, ankles and arms workouts
Life is all about balance — so let\'s exercise it! This intermediate senior gym workout builds balance, muscle, and functional strength. Correct form is your number one priority today. Master the movement before increasing resistance. Seniors, focus and go!
Auto-advanceStart exercises automatically after a 5-second delay
Stand tall and upright with your feet spaced hip-width apart and your arms either by your sides or your hands on your hips.
Shift your weight to one foot and point the toes on the opposing foot into the ground.
Rotate this foot by transferring floor contact from your little toe, to big toe, to ball of your foot, continuing this motion for the specified reps or time.
Holding a pair of dumbbells, carefully sit and find your balance on a stability ball.
Sit up straight and keep your core tight as you lift the dumbbells up to shoulder height. The dumbbells should be horizontal and your palms should be facing forward.
Slowly push the dumbbells overhead without locking out your elbow.
Pause and return to the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders
Secondary:
Abs, Triceps, Upper Back & Lower Traps
Sit on a military press bench or bench that has a back support, holding a dumbbell in each hand with an overhand grip.
Place the dumbbells on top of your thighs with your palms facing down.
Raise the dumbbells to your shoulders.
Rotate your wrists so that the palms of your hands are facing away from you. This is the start position.
As you exhale, push the dumbbells up and over your head by extending your arms until the dumbbells touch at the top of the movement.
Pause for a count of one.
Slowly return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
Repeat.
This exercise can be performed standing or sitting on flat bench. For people with lower back problems, the version described is better.
Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders
Secondary:
Biceps, Forearms, Triceps
Keep a tight core and flat back as you remain seated in the shoulder press machine.
Look straight ahead as you hold on to the handles.
Slowly, press the handles up above your head.
Do not lock out your elbow.
Slowly, bring the handles back down but do not let the weight stack touch.
Take a stability ball and place it against the wall. Position yourself against it so that the ball is contoured to the arch of your back.
Place your feet at shoulder-width with your toes pointed slightly out. Brace your core and keep your chest up.
Bend first at the knees then at the hips. Lower yourself until your thighs are parallel with the floor. Allow the stability ball to guide you but do not put all of your weight against it. Return to the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Hamstrings
Place your feet at shoulder width apart while keeping your chest up and your abdominals braced.
Begin the movement by swinging your arms up towards your shoulders. At the same time, bend at the knees and drive your hips back like you’re sitting in a chair.
Once your upper thighs are parallel with the ground, pause, then drive your hips forward to return to the starting position.
Holding a pair of dumbbells, carefully sit down on a Swiss ball. Make sure that you are positioned in the middle of the ball and that you are balanced.
Starting with the dumbbells lowered near the floor, put a slight bend in the elbows and maintain throughout. Keep your upper arms at your sides. Begin by lifting the dumbbells up and towards your chest. The tension should be exclusively in the biceps.
Pause at the top and slowly lower. Again, do not lock out your elbows. Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Abs, Forearms
Set up a cable station with a straight bar attachment connected to the low pulley.
Stand close to the station, feet shoulder width apart either side of the pulley.
Grip the bar with a shoulder width underhand grip.
Keep your elbows close to your sides.
Curls your arms upward from the elbows in a smooth arc.
Continue until your forearms are vertical with your palms facing your shoulders. Hold for a count of one while flexing your biceps.
Lower the bar back to the starting position in a smooth motion.
Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Abs, Forearms
Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
Let your arms hang by your side with your palms facing in to the side of your body.
Keep your elbows close to your sides.
Curl the dumbbells up towards your shoulders. Do not swing your hips to get the weight moving.
Continue raising the dumbbells until they are level with your shoulders with your palms facing in. Your forearm should be in a vertical position.
Squeeze or flex your bicep and hold for a count of one.
Slowly lower the dumbbells to the starting position.
Repeat.
You can also perform this exercise by alternating between left and right arms or one arm at a time.
Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Forearms
Begin the movement by stepping on to a resistance band with your feet at shoulder-width, toes pointed slightly out.
Holding the handles of the band in each hand, tighten your abdominals and straighten your lower back. Keep your chest up and gaze forward.
Using an underhand grip or hammer fist grip, slowly pull the band towards your shoulders. Keep your upper arm in place, moving only your forearms.
Once you reach the top of the movement, pause, and slowly lower the band to the starting position. Do not lock out your elbows.
Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Forearms
Holding a water bottle in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
Let your arms hang by your side with your palms facing in to the side of your body.
Keep your elbows close to your sides.
Curl the water bottles up towards your shoulders. Do not swing your hips to get the weight moving.
Continue raising the water bottles until they are level with your shoulders with your palms facing in. Your forearm should be in a vertical position.
Squeeze or flex your bicep and hold for a count of one.
Slowly lower the water bottles to the starting position.
Stand tall with a tight core while holding a pair of dumbbells. Keeping your chest up and your gaze straight ahead, shift all of your bodyweight to your left foot. Bend the right knee, allowing the right foot to lift off the ground.
Maintaining a flat back, tilt your upper body forward. Do not allow the dumbbells to pull you down. Control your descent. Simultaneously, allow the right foot to counterbalance the shift in weight.
Feel the contraction in your hamstrings and pause once your upper body is parallel with the ground. Slowly return to the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Lower Back
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Hamstrings, Quadriceps
Place two dumbbells on the floor.
Stand facing the dumbbells with your feet shoulder width apart.
Bend knees and hips to lower your torso in a squatting movement,keep your back straight.
At the bottom of the squat grip the dumbbells with an overhand grip,keeping your arms fully extended.
Return to an upright position holding the dumbbells with your palms facing towards your body and extending your hips forward. Do not round your back.
Return the dumbbells to the floor in the same manner you picked them up.
Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Hamstrings
Secondary:
Lower Back
Holding the handles of the resistance band, step on to the middle. Place your feet at shoulder-width with toes pointing forward. Tighten your core and keep your chest up.
Bend your knees slightly and drive your hips back but NOT lower than your knees. Again, keep the chest up. This is the starting position.
Forcefully contract your glutes, driving them forward. Do not just lean back. Your glutes should be fully contracted. Pause then return to the starting position.
Abs, Calves, Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps, Shoulders
Hold a dumbbell in your left hand with an overhand grip. Stand in place with your feet at shoulder-width. Tighten your core and keep your shoulders back.
Begin the movement by walking forward. Contract your obliques and abs as you move.
Once you reach the prescribed distance, turn around and begin again. Once you reach the starting point, switch arms.
Primary muscle group(s):
Forearms, Neck & Upper Traps, Shoulders
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Hamstrings, Quadriceps
Place a pair of dumbbells or kettlebells at your feet. Brace your core and keep your chest up as you kneel down. Pick the dumbbells up, maintaining your form and keeping your gaze straight ahead.
Standing up, walk forward in a straight line, holding the dumbbells at your sides.
The trick is to use very heavy dumbbells. Walk as far as you can then set the weights down. Take a short break and repeat going back the other way.
Place your feet in a firm position on the bosu ball (about shoulder width apart)
Gradually lower your body into a mid-squat position while raising your arms out in front of your body.
Hold this static position with your legs bent at a 90-degree angle and your arms outstretched in front of you at shoulder height.
Primary muscle group(s):
Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Hamstrings
Place your feet at shoulder-width or just outside of shoulder-width. Turn your toes out slightly. Brace your core and keep your chest up.
Swing your arms up to shoulder level as you slowly bend your knees and push your hips backward. Lower yourself until your thighs are parallel with the ground.
Pause and stay in this position for as long as you can. Return to the starting position by dropping your arms and push your hips forward.