Forget running — this 15-minute walking workout is low-impact and will boost your metabolism

a photo of a woman performing high knees inside
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

If running isn't your thing or you need a cardio workout that doesn't require leaving the house, you'll love the convenience and benefits of walking workouts. We've found a 15-minute, all-standing, no-repeat walking routine for you to try at home.

This routine, created by Lindsay Bomgren (known as @nourishmovelove on Instagram), is an excellent way to boost your step count in a fun and low-impact manner. Despite being low-impact, this workout is high-intensity, so grab a water bottle and a towel—things are about to heat up!

What the 15-minute walking workout below

15-Minute Standing Cardio Workout (2,000 Steps, No Repeats) - YouTube 15-Minute Standing Cardio Workout (2,000 Steps, No Repeats) - YouTube
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This walking routine is formatted in a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) format, mixing 40 seconds of higher intensity walking based exercise with 10 seconds of rest. It's a great way to get you moving, increase your mobility, raise the heart rate and clock some steps.

Bomgren and her workout partner say they both clocked around 2,000 steps after the 15 minute walking routine. If you work toward a daily step count this workout is a helpful way to increase your steps in a short amount of time or close those rings on your Apple Watch

But there isn't a need to get fixated on step count, research suggests step count doesn't matter when it comes to increasing your fitness and getting your heart rate up, but pace does. Which is what you'll get with this high-intensity indoor walking workout.

a photo of a woman doing an indoor workout

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Screening the video on one of the best TV's or a laptop screen will allow you to follow along with Bomgren's demonstrations and get an in-person workout class feel from the comfort of your own home.

Including a 15-minute low-impact, high-intensity walking workout into your weekly fitness regime offers numerous benefits, especially if you want to increase your overall fitness without the need for equipment or repetitive routines. 

One of the primary benefits is its positive effect on metabolism. Walking at a brisk pace under timed intervals can elevate your heart rate and increase calorie burn both during and after the workout. This is known as the afterburn effect, where your body continues to burn calories even after the exercise is complete, helping to boost your metabolic rate over time.

Another thing this style of walking workout can benefit is your mobility. Walking, especially with varied intensity and movements, helps keep the joints flexible and the muscles around them strong. This is particularly important for maintaining range of motion and reducing the risk of injury. 

Think you've got 15 minutes of walking cardio in you? Let's go.

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Jessica Downey
Fitness Writer

Jessica is an experienced fitness writer with a passion for running. Her love for keeping fit and fueling her body with healthy and enjoyable food quite naturally led her to write about all things fitness and health-related. If she isn’t out testing the latest fitness products such as the latest running shoe or yoga mat for reviewing then she can be found writing news and features on the best ways to build strength, active aging, female health, and anything in between. Before then she had a small stint writing in local news, has also written for Runners World UK (print and digital), and gained experience with global content marketing agency, Cedar Communications.

Born and raised in Scotland, Jessica is a massive fan of exercising and keeping active outdoors. When at home she can be found running by the sea, swimming in it, or up a mountain. This continued as she studied and trained to become a PPA-accredited magazine journalist in Wales. And since working and living in London, she splits her time between weight training in the gym, trying new fitness classes, and finding scenic running routes. Jessica enjoys documenting this on her fitness-inspired Instagram page @jessrunshere where she loves engaging with like-minded fitness junkies.

She is a big fan of healthy cooking and loves learning more about this area with expert nutritionists she has met over the years. Jessica is a big advocate for building healthy relationships with food rather than building restrictive attitudes towards it. When she isn’t eating or running she also enjoys practicing yoga in her free time as it helps her to unwind and benefits her performance in other sports.