You don’t need a full gym setup to get a solid strength workout in. One set of dumbbells and 30 minutes is all it takes.
Today’s full body strength training workout will walk you through 21 exercises—warm-up and cool down included—so you don’t have to do those separately.
Each exercise is 45 seconds on with a 15 second rest, so just grab your weights and follow along.
Here’s the full workout:
Arm Circles (Warm-Up)
Let’s get those arms ready to work.
For this one, you’ll make big, controlled circles—backwards first, then forwards.
It might look simple, but it’s one of the best ways to loosen up your shoulders before a full body strength training workout.
How to perform:
- Stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Extend both arms straight out to your sides.
- Rotate your arms backwards in big, controlled circles.
- Engage your core and keep your chest lifted.
- Switch directions and circle your arms forwards.
Yogi Squat Stretch (Warm-Up)
This one’s a two-for-one stretch.
You’ll drop into a deep squat, tuck your fingers under your toes, then lift your hips up to feel that hamstring pull.
If your hamstrings are tight (and whose aren’t?), take it slow and let your body ease into it.
How to perform:
- Lower your hips into a deep, natural squat.
- Tuck fingertips under toes or place hands on the floor.
- Lift your hips toward the ceiling to straighten legs.
- Feel the stretch in your hamstrings while keeping fingers tucked.
- Lower hips back down into the squat and repeat the flow.
Hip Circles (Warm-Up)
Your hips do a lot of heavy lifting in this at home strength training for women routine—so let’s wake them up.
You’ll balance on one leg and draw big half-circles with your knee, opening up those hip joints.
Don’t rush it. Controlled movement is the goal here.
How to perform:
- Stand tall and balance your weight on one leg.
- Lift the opposite knee up toward your chest.
- Rotate that knee outward in a big half-circle arc.
- Place your foot back down to reset.
- Alternate legs, circling the knee open to the side.
Bodyweight Squat (Warm-Up)
Here’s where things start to heat up a little.
You’ll squat down with your arms overhead, then rise up onto your toes at the top.
Keep your chest lifted the whole time—this gets your legs and core fired up for the strength and conditioning workouts ahead.
How to perform:
- Stand with feet slightly wider than hips, arms expanded overhead.
- Lower into a squat while keeping arms fully extended above your head.
- Drive through your feet to stand back up.
- Rise onto your toes, maintaining the overhead arm position.
- Lower heels and immediately flow into the next squat.
Plank to Push Back (Warm-Up)
This move stretches out your shoulders and back while keeping your core engaged.
From a high plank, you’ll push your hips back toward your heels (knees hovering), then drive forward again.
If you feel your booty poking up, check yourself—keep those hips in line.
How to perform:
- Start in a high plank with hands under shoulders.
- Push hips back toward heels, knees hovering off the floor.
- Stretch arms forward in this compressed position.
- explosively drive forward back to high plank.
- Keep your core tight and don’t let hips sag.
Deadlift to Reverse Lunge
Now we’re getting into the real work.
This compound workout hits your glutes, hamstrings, and quads all in one go. You’ll hinge into a deadlift, stand up, then step back into a lunge.
Make sure you’re sitting into your heels for both movements—that’s where the power comes from.
How to perform:
- Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, holding dumbbells at sides.
- Hinge hips back to lower weights with a flat back (Deadlift).
- Squeeze glutes to return to a standing position.
- Step one foot back and drop knee into a Reverse Lunge.
- Press through the front heel to step forward to center.
- Repeat the deadlift, then lunge with the opposite leg.
Standing Shoulder Press
Simple but effective.
You’ll press those dumbbells straight overhead, keeping a slight bend in your elbows at the top (no locking out!).
This is a continuous motion, so don’t hang out too long at the bottom or the top. Keep it moving.
How to perform:
- Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding dumbbells at shoulders.
- Press weights straight overhead until arms extend.
- Keep a slight bend in elbows; don’t lock them out.
- Lower weights back to ear level with control.
- Keep movement continuous and brace your core.
Side Lunge to Sumo Squat
Two lower-body moves packed into one.
You’ll shift into a side lunge, press back to center, then drop into a sumo squat.
Here’s the key: don’t go too wide on your stance, or you won’t be able to squat properly. Sit back into those heels and press through your glutes.
How to perform:
- Take a wide stance, toes pointed slightly out.
- Shift hips back and to the side for a Side Lunge.
- Press through the bent heel to return to center.
- Drop hips straight down into a Sumo Squat.
- Stand up and repeat the sequence, keeping your chest lifted.
Static Bicep Curl
This one’s sneaky hard.
You’ll hold one arm at 90 degrees while the other arm does full curls. Halfway through, you switch.
Keep your elbows tucked tight to your ribs and shoulder blades pulled back—no swinging!
How to perform:
- Hold dumbbells with palms facing forward.
- Hold one arm static at a 90-degree angle.
- Perform full bicep curls with the other arm.
- Keep elbows tucked tight to your ribs.
- Switch roles halfway through the interval.
Lunge Back Row
Get ready for a full body weight lifting workout moment.
From a plank position holding your dumbbells, you’ll step one foot forward into a deep lunge and row the weight up.
Think about keeping your hips stable and hitting every position cleanly—plank, lunge, row, back to plank.
How to perform:
- Start in a high plank holding dumbbells on the floor.
- Step one foot forward just outside your hand (into a deep lunge position).
- Row the inside arm up, squeezing the shoulder blade.
- Lower the weight and step back to plank.
- Repeat, alternating sides keeping hips stable throughout.
Russian Twists
Time to target those obliques.
Sit back so you feel tension in your lower abs, hold the dumbbell at chest level, and rotate side to side.
Keep your chest open and lifted—it’s easy to slouch here. Looking up and out helps you stay in good form.
How to perform:
- Sit with knees bent and lean back to engage abs.
- Hold one dumbbell at chest level with both hands.
- Rotate torso to the right, bringing weight near the floor.
- Rotate all the way to the left side.
- Keep chest open and lifted.
Glute Bridge With Chest Press
Don’t let the lying-down position fool you—this one works.
You’ll hold a glute bridge while pressing one arm up at a time.
The challenge? Keeping those hips lifted and level the entire time. No dropping!
How to perform:
- Lie on your back, knees bent, feet flat.
- Lift hips into a Glute Bridge and hold.
- Hold dumbbells with elbows near the floor.
- Press one arm up while keeping the other down.
- Perform 4 reps on one side, then switch.
- Keep hips lifted and level the entire time.
Weighted Single Leg Crunch
This exercise asks a lot of your core.
You’ll crunch up with the dumbbell overhead, extend one leg out, and bring the weight toward your bent shin.
If dropping your arms all the way back strains your lower back, only go as far as feels comfortable.
How to perform:
- Lie on your back with legs in tabletop position.
- Hold dumbbell overhead with arms extended back.
- Crunch up, lifting shoulders off the floor.
- Extend one leg out and bring weight toward bent shin.
- Lower torso and return leg to tabletop.
- Alternate legs, pressing lower back into the floor.
Squat With Curl
A classic combo from the best full body workout playbook.
You’ll squat down, stand up, then hammer curl the weights to your shoulders.
Press through those heels on the way up, and tuck your elbows during the curl.
How to perform:
- Stand feet shoulder-width apart, palms facing each other.
- Lower into a squat, keeping weight in heels.
- Drive up to a standing position.
- Curl weights to shoulders (Hammer Curl) at the top.
- Lower weights and immediately squat again.
Dumbbell Snatch
This one’s explosive and works your whole body.
You’ll step into a wide side lunge, then powerfully drive up and punch the weight overhead.
Control is everything on the way down—don’t just let gravity take over.
How to perform:
- Stand holding one dumbbell in one hand.
- Step into a wide side lunge, lowering weight toward the floor.
- Explosively push off to return to standing.
- Pull weight straight up and punch overhead (Snatch).
- Control weight down to shoulder then hip.
- Perform all reps on one side before switching.
Hip Flexor Stretch (Cool Down)
After all that work, your hip flexors need some love.
Step into a long lunge, brace yourself, and sink your hips forward.
You should feel a deep stretch in the front of your back leg. Breathe into it.
How to perform:
- Step one foot forward, lower back knee to mat.
- Push hips forward and down toward the ground.
- Feel the stretch in the front hip of the kneeling leg.
- Keep chest tall and hold for a few breaths.
- Now Alternate legs
Cobra Stretch (Cool Down)
Time to open up that chest.
Lie face down, press into your hands, and lift your chest while keeping your hips heavy on the mat.
Let everything relax and sink down as you hold.
How to perform:
- Lie face down, palms under shoulders.
- Press into hands to lift chest off the floor.
- Keep hips heavy and sinking into the mat.
- Look slightly upward to open the chest.
Down Dog (Cool Down)
A classic stretch that hits your calves, hamstrings, and shoulders.
Lift your hips high, press your chest back toward your thighs, and try to lower your heels toward the mat.
Feel free to pedal your feet to deepen the calf stretch.
How to perform:
- Tuck toes and lift hips high from plank or tabletop.
- Press chest back toward your thighs (forming an invert V).
- Try to lower heels toward the mat.
- Pedal feet to deepen the calf stretch.
Cat/Cow (Cool Down)
This gentle flow helps release tension in your spine.
Drop your belly and lift your gaze on the inhale (cow), then arch your back and tuck your chin on the exhale (cat).
Move slowly and let your breath guide you.
How to perform:
- Start on hands and knees in tabletop.
- Inhale, drop belly, and lift gaze (Cow).
- Exhale, arch back, and tuck chin (Cat).
- Move slowly with the rhythm of your breath.
Thread the Needle (Cool Down)
Your upper back and shoulders worked hard today—this stretch is your reward.
Reach one arm up, twist open, then thread it underneath your body and lower your shoulder to the mat.
Hold it there and breathe.
How to perform:
- Reach one arm high to twist torso open.
- Thread that arm underneath your body.
- Lower shoulder and head onto the mat.
- Hold to stretch the upper back and shoulder.
- Alternate side
Child’s Pose (Cool Down)
You made it!
Push your hips back to your heels, walk your hands forward, and let your forehead rest on the mat.
Relax your arms and take some nice, deep breaths into your lower back.
How to perform:
- Widen knees and push hips back to heels.
- Walk hands forward and lower forehead to mat.
- Relax arms and breathe into your lower back.

Article Medically reviewed by
I’m fitness coach Ashley Castleberry, an NASM-certified personal trainer and nutritionist, as well as a coach on an established YouTube Channel with over 1 million followers. With certifications from major fitness brands, I specialize in athletic, HIIT, and strength training. Leveraging my experience coaching clients on lifestyle changes, I provide customized exercise and nutrition guidance to help people reach their fitness goals, whether that be weight loss, muscle gain or overall health improvement.
