Buying gifts and making travel plans all while manageing your mental health [1] can be quite the beast to take on this festive season. But no matter how busy you are — or what you're going through [2] — getting in a quick Tabata session [3] or full-body BBG Beginner workout from Kayla Itsines can help take the stress off. What's more, holiday-themed workout videos can help you out a little more with some festive exercise moves and extra cheer.
Ahead, check out a handful of dance cardio videos, lower-body routines, and a lot of "All I Want For Christmas Is You." You can do them all at home, and for the ones that are on the shorter side, feel free to press play a few times to clock a longer workout! (Extra points if you wear holiday workout clothes [4].) While you're at it, try our eight nights of HIIT for Hanukkah challenge [5]!
"All I Want For Christmas" Workout Challenge From Love Sweat Fitness
This quick video from Love Sweat Fitness founder and personal trainer Katie Dunlop is set to "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey [7]. You'll be doing moves like glute bridges and single-leg glute bridge variations, bicycles, tricep push-ups, and more (note: if the knee modifications are too easy for the tricep push-ups, you can do them on your toes). It starts around 1:13!
Blogilates "All I Want For Christmas Is You" Squat Challenge
I tried this lower-body workout from ACE-certified personal trainer and Blogilates creator Cassey Ho, and in four minutes it lit up my quads big time [8]. Of course, it's set to "All I Want For Christmas Is You" and features narrow squats and narrow squat pulses, side squats, sumo squats and sumo squat pulses, as well as fun dance moves. When I do this next, I'm going to add weights and repeat it a second time to make it even more challenging.
"All I Want For Christmas" Dance Cardio Workout From Love Sweat Fitness
Again, this dance cardio routine from Katie Dunlop of Love Sweat Fitness and dance fitness instructor Ali Rose [9] is set to Mariah Carey [10]'s hit Christmas tune. Katie and Ali go through the moves in the beginning so that you have time to practice. And they even sneak in some sumo squats and lunges! The actual workout starts after minute three.
30-Minute Happy Holidays Walking/Dance Workout
This half-hour cardio session from Australian dancer and personal trainer Gina B [11] of Up to the BEat Fit includes easy-to-follow choreography set to classic Christmas music from Britney Spears [12], Kelly Clarkson [13], Michael Bublé, and more. According to Gina, the workout is equivalent to walking two miles. Get to it!
20-Minute Holiday HIIT Workout From Love Sweat Fitness
Katie Dunlop is back with this 20-minute HIIT routine that features moves such as star jumps, "elf kicks," and candlesticks (basically planks with single-arm reaches). You'll be doing each move for 40 seconds followed by a 20-second rest, and you'll be doing four rounds total (each round is five minutes long with a one-minute break at the end). Start from 3:00 on this video, complete it all the way through, and repeat three more times. Make sure you watch from the beginning so you understand that you'll be alternating sides for some of the exercises with each new round.
Bonus: Yoga For Digestion From Yoga With Adriene
Since the holidays tend to bring heaps of good food (and even better leftovers!), this 13-minute practice focussed on digestion [14] can help you get through those days when you feel extra stuffed. In this low-intensity flow, you'll be doing pelvic hip circles, Knee to Chest, and other gentle movements. Plus, as a reminder, think before you talk to people about their diets, especially during this time of year [15].
Fitness Marshall "Cozy Little Christmas" Dance Workout
This fun dance cardio session from The Fitness Marshall is Christmas-themed and set to Katy Perry [16]'s "Cozy Little Christmas." You'll be doing a lot of twisting, jumping, and pivoting — our favorite move is the "sledders." Get warm, and get to work!
