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28 Easy FULL BODY STRENGTH TRAINING Workout for Women (30-Minute Workout)

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Tonya McIntosh

Tonya McIntosh—The main person behind TGFFitness as its Founder and Chief Editor. Get to know more about Tonya

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Reviewed By: Ashley Castleberry

Strength training doesn’t have to be complicated. And you definitely don’t need a full rack of weights to get it done.

This full body strength training workout only takes two dumbbells and about 30 minutes. That’s it.

It’s a great workout for strength whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been at it for a while. Think of it as beginner strength training for women that still brings the challenge.

Grab your dumbbells and let’s get into it:

1

Band Arm Reaches (Warm-up)

Let’s get this full body strength training workout started with a simple shoulder warm-up.

You’ll pretend like you’re pulling a stretchy band apart between your hands— it’s all about finding that resistance as you reach up and over.

How to perform:

  • Pretend like you are holding a stretchy band between your hands.
  • Pull your hands apart to find resistance.
  • Bring your arms up and over behind you.
  • Bring your arms up and back to the front to warm up through your shoulders.
2

Squat to Front Kick (Warm-up)

For this one, you’ll combine a slow squat with a front kick.

As you stand up, kick one leg forward and reach your opposite arm toward it. You’ll get a nice dynamic hamstring stretch out of this, too!

How to perform:

  • Perform a slow squat.
  • As you stand, kick one leg forward.
  • Reach your opposite arm toward your kicking leg to find a dynamic stretch through your hamstrings.
3

Side Bend to Elbow Row (Warm-up)

Here, you’re warming up two areas at once—your sides and your back.

You’ll reach one arm overhead for a side bend, then row your elbow down. Try to really resist the movement on the way back up before switching arms.

How to perform:

  • Step your feet wide.
  • Reach your right arm overhead for a side bend.
  • Row your elbow down to your side.
  • Resist the movement, then switch to the other arm.
4

Squat Reach to Knee Pulls (Warm-up)

This is your last warm-up move, so make it count!

You’ll drop into a wide squat, reach down, then reach all the way overhead to lengthen through your upper body before pulling your knees up.

How to perform:

  • Turn your feet out from your hips and push your knees back into a squat.
  • Reach down, then reach overhead to lengthen through your upper body.
  • Perform knee pulls.
5

Side Lunge to Overhead Press

Now we’re getting into the real strength training exercises—grab one dumbbell for this one.

You’ll sink into a deep side lunge, keeping your chest open, then press the dumbbell overhead as you pull up tall.

Don’t forget to switch hands and repeat on the other side.

How to perform:

  • Step your feet super wide and hold one dumbbell in your left hand.
  • Bend through your right knee, sending your hips down and back into a side lunge.
  • Keep open through your chest.
  • Press the dumbbell overhead as you pull up tall and lengthen.
  • Switch the dumbbell to your right hand and repeat the movement on the other side.
6

Sumo Squat Double Pulse

Grab both dumbbells for this lower body strength workout move.

You’ll find a wide sumo stance, lean forward just a bit with a flat back, and sink low.

The double pulse at the bottom is where you’ll really feel it—stay low and don’t rush it!

How to perform:

  • Grab both dumbbells and find a sumo stance, slightly turned out from your hips.
  • Lean forward slightly with a flat back.
  • Sink your hips down low into a sumo squat.
  • Stay low and perform a double pulse.
  • Extend to release, then repeat.
7

Narrow Shoulder Press to Row

This is a great full body compound workout move that targets your shoulders AND your back.

You’ll press both dumbbells overhead, then lower them and row your elbows behind you. Focus on squeezing those back muscles as you pull.

Quick tip: check in with your posture—ribs down, core engaged, slight bend in your knees.

How to perform:

  • Engage your core, knit your ribs down and in, and keep a slight bend in your knees.
  • Perform a narrow shoulder press overhead with both dumbbells.
  • Lower the dumbbells and row your elbows behind you.
  • Squeeze your back muscles as you row back.
8

Lateral Raise to Forearm Rotation

Still working your shoulders here, but with a twist (literally).

You’ll lift your elbows out for a bent-arm lateral raise, then rotate your forearms out and back in.

Keep your neck long and your shoulders away from your ears. For the last 15 seconds, ditch the rotation and just burn out those lateral raises!

How to perform:

  • Keep a long neck, drawing your shoulders down and away from your ears.
  • Lift your elbows for a lateral shoulder raise with bent arms.
  • Rotate your forearms out, then rotate your forearms back in.
  • Note: For the last 15 seconds, stick to lateral shoulder raises only to burn it out.
9

Low Plank Alternating Knee Drives

Time to put the dumbbells down (but keep them close—you’ll need them again soon).

For this one, you’ll drop onto your forearms and drive your knees into your chest one at a time.

Give a good exhale with every knee drive—it helps you scoop deeper through your belly.

How to perform:

  • Come down onto your forearms into a low plank position.
  • Scoop through your belly and draw one knee into your chest.
  • Exhale with every knee drive.
  • Return to a flat plank position and alternate legs.
10

Hovering Knee Kick-Throughs

This one takes a bit of coordination, so don’t worry if it feels tricky at first!

You’ll hover your knees off the ground, then kick your bottom leg through while reaching with the opposite arm.

Drop your heel, drop your hips, then come back to center and switch sides.

How to perform:

  • Come up onto your hands and hover your knees off the ground.
  • Kick your bottom leg through while reaching your opposite arm.
  • Drop your heel and drop your hips.
  • Come back to the center with knees hovering, and alternate sides.
11

Donkey Kickback Double Pulse

Here’s where things get fun. You’ll wedge a dumbbell behind your knee and do kickbacks with a double pulse at the top.

Make sure you’re pulling up through your core so you don’t arch your back.

Want more of a challenge? Lift your opposite arm behind you to test your balance.

How to perform:

  • Place one dumbbell behind your right knee and wedge it in securely.
  • Pull up through your core to ensure you aren’t arching your back, and knit your ribs in.
  • Lift your right leg, bringing your toes to the sky.
  • Pulse for two to squeeze your glutes, then bring your knee back in.
  • Optional Challenge: Lift your opposite arm (left arm) behind your back to challenge your balance.
  • Switch the dumbbell to wedge behind your left knee and repeat on the other side.
12

Prone Leg Pulses

Don’t let the lying-down position fool you—this one fires up your glutes and inner thighs.

You’ll lie face down, lift your legs, and pulse them in and out. Your legs don’t need to be super high off the ground to feel the burn, trust me.

Keep the back of your neck long and your gaze down at the mat.

How to perform:

  • Lie on your belly with your hands resting on top of your forehead.
  • Keep your gaze down at the mat and keep the back of your neck long.
  • Squeeze your glutes and inner thighs to lift your legs (they do not have to be high).
  • Pulse your legs in, then out, staying lifted the whole time.
13

Squat Twist

Stand back up and grab one dumbbell for this full body weight workout move.

You’ll hold the dumbbell on both sides, drop into a squat, and add a twist at the top as you come up.

It’s simple, but that twist fires up your core more than you’d expect!

How to perform:

  • Stand up and grab one dumbbell, holding it on either side with both hands.
  • Perform a squat.
  • Add a twist at the top of the movement as you stand.
14

Narrow Squat to Sumo Squat

No dumbbells needed for this one—just your bodyweight and some footwork.

You’ll alternate between a narrow squat and diagonal sumo squats, stepping back at an angle each time.

Keep your hips back and your weight in your heels throughout.

How to perform:

  • Perform a narrow squat, keeping your hips back and weight in your heels.
  • Step back at a diagonal to face the corner and sink into a sumo squat.
  • Return to face the front for another narrow squat.
  • Step back at a diagonal to face the other corner for a sumo squat.
15

Overhead Tricep Extensions

Grab both dumbbells and bring them together for this arm burner.

You’ll bend your elbows to lower the weights behind your head, then extend back up.

Engage your core and draw your ribs down—it’ll keep you from arching your back.

How to perform:

  • Grab both dumbbells and place them together.
  • Engage your core and draw your ribs down.
  • Inhale to bend your elbows, lowering the weights behind your head.
  • Exhale to extend your arms back overhead.
16

Lunge to Tricep Kickbacks

This one combines two strength training exercises into one move, so it’s super efficient for a workout for strength.

You’ll do two lunge reps, then straighten your back leg, lean forward with a flat back, and knock out two tricep extensions.

Switch legs and repeat. Your arms will thank you later (maybe not right away, though!).

How to perform:

  • Step your left leg back into a lunge and perform two lunge reps.
  • Straighten your back leg and lean forward with a flat back.
  • Draw your elbows back and perform two tricep extensions.
  • Switch sides by sending your right leg back and repeating the sequence.
17

Standing Knee Crunches

Drop one dumbbell and hold the other on both sides.

You’ll lift one knee and twist to crunch through your core—really focus on that mind-to-muscle connection here.

Switch legs halfway through the interval.

How to perform:

  • Drop one dumbbell and hold the remaining dumbbell on either side with both hands.
  • Lift your right knee and twist to crunch through your core.
  • Focus on your mind-to-muscle connection.
  • Switch to the left leg halfway through the interval.
18

Side-Lying V-Crunches

Come down to the floor for this one. You’ll lie on your side, squeeze your legs together, and crunch up toward them.

Use your front elbow for leverage and think about lifting diagonally forward and up through your chest.

Don’t forget to flip and hit the other side!

How to perform:

  • Come onto the floor and lie on your left side.
  • Squeeze your legs together and extend your bottom arm forward.
  • Use your front elbow as leverage, lengthen through your upper body, and lift diagonally forward and up through your chest.
  • Reach for your legs to perform a side crunch.
  • Flip around to your other side and repeat.
19

Full Sit-Ups (With Variations)

Classic sit-ups, but you get to choose your own adventure here.

Roll up nice and slow, then back down. You can lift one knee, both knees, or go for a full V-sit—whatever works for your level.

This is one of those beginner strength training for women moves that you can easily scale up or down.

How to perform:

  • Lie on your back.
  • Roll up nice and slow into a full sit-up, then roll back down.
  • Optional Variations: You can choose to lift one knee, lift both knees, or find a V-sit position as you come up.
20

Straight Leg Bicycles

You’re staying on your back for this one.

Keep your elbows wide, chin away from your chest, and twist toward your top leg as you go.

Straight legs make this harder, so feel free to bend them if you need to. Either way, really try to draw that leg in toward you for some active mobility work.

How to perform:

  • Lie on your back and draw your low back down into your mat.
  • Keep your elbows wide and your chin away from your chest.
  • Keep your legs straight (or bent if you prefer).
  • Twist and lift toward your top leg, actively drawing the leg in toward you to work on active mobility.
21

Goblet Squat Half-Extensions

Stand up and grab one dumbbell, holding it in a V position with both hands.

Here’s the catch—you’ll only extend halfway up from the squat. That keeps your muscles working the whole time with no rest at the top.

Get low, stay low, and keep those shoulders down and back.

How to perform:

  • Stand up and grab one dumbbell, holding it to create a V position with your hands.
  • Keep your shoulders down and back.
  • Bend into a deep squat.
  • Extend only halfway up to keep muscle activation throughout the movement, then lower back down.
22

Staggered Deadlift

Grab both dumbbells and stagger your stance—one foot forward, one slightly back with the heel popped.

You’ll hinge super slow at the hips with a flat back. Keep those dumbbells close to your legs.

Ready for an extra challenge? Lift your back leg for a single-leg deadlift. Just make sure you drop that back hip so you’re not opening up.

How to perform:

  • Grab both dumbbells and keep them close to your leg.
  • Stagger your stance with your right leg forward and left leg slightly back, popping your left heel.
  • Hinge at your hips super slow with a flat back, sending your hips to the wall behind you.
  • Ensure you drop your left hip down so you aren’t opening through your hips.
  • Optional Challenge: Lift your back leg for a single-leg deadlift, lengthening out through your head and back toes.
  • Switch sides and repeat.
23

Gorilla Rows

This is one of the best full body workout moves for your back, and you might feel it in your quads and inner thighs, too.

Step your feet wide, bend your knees, lean forward, and alternate rowing the dumbbells.

Really squeeze and resist into those back muscles with each rep.

How to perform:

  • Step your feet wide and bend through your knees.
  • Lean forward.
  • Alternate rowing the dumbbells, squeezing and resisting into your back muscles.
24

Wide Bicep Curls

Keeping it simple with this one—and sometimes simple is the most effective workout move.

Stand tall, palms up, and curl those dumbbells. Keep your elbows in place, slightly away from your body, and focus on the squeeze.

How to perform:

  • Stand upright with your palms facing up.
  • Keep your elbows in place, slightly away from your body.
  • Exhale to curl the dumbbells up.
  • Inhale to extend and lower them down.
25

Seated Alternating Bicep Curls

You can do this one standing, but if you want to sneak in some core work, come down to your mat and lean back a bit.

Alternate your curls with your palms up and stay open through your chest.

Almost there—you’ve only got two more moves after this in the full body weight training workout!

How to perform:

  • Come down onto your mat and sit down, leaning back slightly to engage your core.
  • Keep open through your chest.
  • Keep your palms up and alternate curling the dumbbells.
26

Chest Flies with Leg Crunches

Lie on your back and hold the dumbbells over your chest with a soft bend in your elbows.

You’ll bring your arms out to the sides, then back up—working your chest on every rep.

Want to level it up? Add a crunch by extending one leg out as you fly. Alternate legs to hit your core at the same time.

How to perform:

  • Lie on your back and hold the dumbbells over your chest with a soft bend through your elbows.
  • Bring your arms out to the sides on an inhale, then bring them back up on an exhale.
  • Optional: Add a crunch by extending one leg out as you fly, alternating legs.
27

Push-Ups to In-Out Hand Walks

This is your final move—so give it everything you’ve got!

You’ll do two push-ups, then walk your hands in and out while keeping your hips as stable as possible.

It’s tougher than it sounds, but you’re almost at the finish line!

How to perform:

  • Place your hands about mat-width apart and find a plank position.
  • Perform two push-ups.
  • Keep your hips stable and walk your hands inward, then outward (in, in, out, out).
  • Inhale and exhale as you extend.
28

Cool Down Stretches

You made it! Time to bring your heart rate down and stretch everything out.

You’ll flow through child’s pose, low lunge twists, hamstring stretches, and seated side bends.

Take your time here—breathe deep and let your body recover from this strength training workouts for women session. You earned it!

Child’s Pose:

Reach forward, sink your hips, drop your forehead down, and walk your hands to the right, then to the left.

Low Lunge Twist:

Bring your hands back to center, step your right leg forward into a low lunge, and sink your hips. Optionally, twist by reaching your left arm forward and right arm back. Unravel and repeat on the left side.

Hamstring Stretch:

From the low lunge, extend your front leg, flex the foot, shift your weight back, and relax your upper body down. Repeat on the other side.

Seated Side Bends:

Find a comfortable seated position facing the front. Reach one arm overhead to bend to the side, then switch sides. Inhale to reach up, exhale to release.

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.

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Tonya McIntosh

Hi, I’m Tonya McIntosh — Founder of TGFFitness, NASM-certified Nutrition Coach, and Personal Trainer. With over 8 years of coaching experience, I’ve seen firsthand that the biggest challenge most people face isn’t starting — it’s staying consistent.

Finding your true motivator is the key to lasting results — and I’ll show you how. Keep Reading.

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