Build muscular arms and a stronger core with this low-impact, light weight workout

You don't need to spend hours in the gym lifting heavy weights to build muscular arms. You can achieve good upper body strength at home with just a set of dumbbells.

Personal trainer Ally Aslaksen recently shared a low-impact workout that strengthens your arms and works your core in roughly 20 minutes. The moves are all done on the floor with a set of light weights, so it’s a good option if you don’t fancy a long, arduous session in the gym. You can watch the full workout here.

How to do Ally Aslaksen's floor-based dumbbell workout

All you need for this workout is a mat, some space and some weights. The weight you choose will depend on your bodyweight and history of training but we recommend 7lb weights for beginners, 10lb for intermediate and 15lb for advanced.

Aslaksen recommends that you do each exercise for 12-15 reps, and go through the workout three to four times (see her Instagram post for a list of the full exercises, which include plank rotations and reverse flyes). Take one to two minutes rest between each set, depending on your fitness levels.

Remember to warm up for at least five minutes before the workout, and cool down too, to reduce the risk of injury.

Why is upper body strength important?

Upper body strength improves posture, balance and functional strength—so you can carry the shopping and run for the bus. Working to build muscle in your arms, shoulders and chest can also help reduce the risk of age-related muscle wastage (known as sarcopenia). Plus, building upper body strength and improving your posture can counteract the damage caused from sitting at a desk all day.

A lot of these moves will also target your core muscles, which is useful as a strong core reduces the risk of lower back pain. If you want really work these mid-body muscles, try adding these core-strengthening exercises into your workout routine.

Need help choosing some weights? Our guide to the best adjustable dumbbells can help