New year, same exercises: 24 best exercises you couldn’t do without in 2024, and will carry into 2025

Best exercises: Add squats, push-ups and lunges to your daily workout routine (Images: Canva)

As the years roll on, fitness trends may come and go, but some exercises remain timeless for their effectiveness and adaptability. These moves aren’t just workouts; they’re lifestyle essentials that promise to keep you stronger, healthier, and more energised, no matter the year.

Here are 24 of the best exercises that dominated fitness regimens in 2024, and ones you won’t want to skip in 2025:

Squats: Strengthen your legs and glutes while improving your posture. Squats are the king of lower-body exercises, building a solid foundation for other movements.

Deadlifts: A full-body powerhouse that boosts strength and posture, deadlifts target your back, core, and hamstrings.

Also read | Best exercises to burn belly fat, trim your waistline

Push-ups: This classic move builds upper body strength and stability while engaging your core. Perfect for home or gym.

Burpees: Love them or hate them, burpees torch calories and improve strength in a single move.
Plank holds: For a rock-solid core, planks reign supreme. They also enhance overall body stability.

Jumping jacks: A cardio classic, jumping jacks are an easy way to get your heart rate up anywhere.

Lunges: Perfect for building balance and lower-body strength, lunges come with endless variations.

Pull-ups: Challenge your upper body and core strength with this iconic bodyweight move.

Mountain climbers: Get your heart pumping and core burning with this high-intensity, total-body workout.

Glute bridges: Activate and strengthen your glutes and lower back with this simple yet effective move.

Also read | Exercise tips: Best anti-ageing workouts for total fitness

Yoga and surya namaskaar: A flow that combines stretching, breathing, and mindfulness while improving flexibility.

Kettlebell swings: Improve explosive power and strength while targeting your core and lower body.

High knees: Boost your heart rate while improving coordination and agility.

Jump rope: A childhood favourite turned calorie-scorching exercise, jump rope is amazing for cardio and agility.

Bicycle crunches: Target those obliques and the rest of your core with this dynamic ab move.

Bench press: A staple for building chest, shoulder, and tricep strength.

Rowing machine: A full-body cardio option that’s low-impact and highly effective for endurance.

Also read | Best exercises: 5 types of treadmill workouts for beginners

Dips: Strengthen your triceps, shoulders, and chest with this simple yet tough bodyweight move.

Sprints: Boost speed, stamina, and overall cardiovascular health with short bursts of high-intensity running.

Russian twists: Tone your obliques and improve rotational core strength with this seated exercise.

Side planks: Add a twist to your core routine with side planks, which enhance oblique strength and shoulder stability.

Farmer’s walk: Improve grip strength, core stability, and your stamina with this functional exercise.

Hip thrusts: A must for glute development, hip thrusts build strength and improve posture.

Cycling: A low-impact yet powerful workout, cycling strengthens your legs and improves cardiovascular health, while being easy on the joints.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.