Here are a few videos and apps to get you started with this intense (but quick!) workout method.
Tabata Workout Videos to Get Started in a Flash
Following along with a Tabata exercise video is one of the quickest ways to get a feel for this type of workout. With the help of these friendly and engaging instructors, you’ll get the basics of Tabata in no time.
1. growingannanas
The Intense Tabata Mix from growingannanas will make you sweat and push your limits in only 12 minutes. This no-equipment workout packs a whopping 24 exercises into this short amount of time. Get ready to bounce quickly from push-ups to squat jumps to bicycle crunches.
It’s a great way to jump right into Tabata for beginners, although even experienced Tabata people will appreciate the variety of workouts here. Find many more Tabata and other HIIT workouts on growingannanas’s YouTube channel, which features a huge variety of fitness content.
2. Tabata Songs
Follow along with the 20 Minute Full Body Tabata video from Tabata Songs, which will have you doing everything from jumping jacks to mountain climbers in no time. Instructor Ash Crawford will show you how it’s done.
Songs like “Wake Me Up” and “Doin It Right” play throughout the workout. Because the music matches the timing of your Tabata workout, it’s a built-in motivator. Anyone with a music or dance background will probably step to the beat in no time. Check out the rest of the Tabata Songs YouTube channel for many more workouts synced to great music.
3. The Fitologists
Get a feel for this type of workout if it’s new to you with the 4 Minute Cardio Blaster Tabata for Beginners video from The Fitologists. Try out some hammer jacks to start, then progress to mountain climbers, high knees, and more.
This video is not only a fun introduction to Tabata workouts, but it’s also an excellent way to get your heart rate up in just a few minutes. (The fast-paced pump-up music helps, too.) Try this workout the next time you’re feeling the afternoon slump, and chances are you’ll wake up in no time.
Check out much more Tabata and HIIT content on The Fitologists’ channel. And if high-intensity interval training workouts appeal to you, then consider the best HIIT apps for a quick workout anytime.
4. Koboko Fitness
The 12 Minute Fullbody Tabata Home Workout from Koboko Fitness is a great choice when you need an intense workout in just a few minutes. Bridge holds, reverse plank, and jumping jacks are all part of the routine.
Kola Olaosebikan, a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), does a great job breaking down each exercise and offering alternatives when appropriate. For instance, if the regular jumping jacks aren’t right for you, then step jacks may be better. The popular Koboko Fitness channel offers many more at-home, bodyweight-only exercises you can follow at any time.
Download Some Tabata Apps to Bring Intense Workouts Anywhere
Once you’ve gotten the hang of Tabata basics, then try a few apps to keep the momentum going. There are plenty of great countdown timer apps to choose from, but these apps are designed for Tabata workouts in particular.
1. Tabata Timer
This free app makes following your own Tabata workouts easier. It’s a good choice for anyone who’s ready to take more creative control over their interval workouts.
A robotic voice tells you to get ready, then a 20-second exercise timer plays. Once the time is up, a green rest timer runs for 10 seconds. In addition to the large timer, you can also see the number of sets and cycles that have elapsed on the screen, and your total time appears at the bottom.
The app can adapt to your specific needs. It lets you adjust everything from the exercise intervals to the number of sets in each workout. For integration with your smartphone, you can allow the app to access and update your health data. The Tabata Timer app is a good choice for anyone who already has a set of exercises in mind and simply needs a timer to keep track of it all.
Download: Tabata Timer for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)
2. Tabata HIIT
Video exercise demonstrations and a handy timer make this app a must-have for any Tabata fan. A voice announces each workout, and you can follow along with an animation to complete it. The typical 20-second Tabata interval involves leg raises, crunches, and many more exercises.
In the free version of the app, you can access fat-burning, muscle-building Tabata workouts that target your abs, butt and thighs, legs, and upper body. In addition, you have the option to schedule workouts, as well as adjust the periods of time you spend doing each exercise or rest period during the Tabata itself. Check the Workout Routine screen under each Tabata to preview the exercises ahead of time.
Premium workouts include one called the Superman, as well as a Create Your Tabata option. A premium subscription also gives you access to your total workout statistics. A straightforward app with plenty of content and customizable features, Tabata HIIT is a helpful download for anyone who enjoys this style of exercise.
Download: Tabata HIIT for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)
Spice Up Your Fitness Routine With Tabata Workouts
Whether you’re looking for a quick, efficient workout routine, or you’re simply curious about this fast-paced approach to fitness, Tabata workout apps and videos offer a lot of activity in a brief amount of time. Tabata is the perfect antidote to an exercise slump, because you simply don’t have time to get bored when you’re jumping from burpees to squat jacks to mountain climbers.
