The five best leg exercises for beginners, according to a Pilates instructor

A woman performs a Pilates leg lift on an exercise mat in a brightly lit living room. She is lying on her right side, with her right forearm and leg lying on the mat. Her left leg is lifted up high at a 45-degree angle to the floor. Her hair is tied back and she wears a sports top and leggings.

You don't need a fancy gym membership or heavy weights to strengthen your legs—if you're new to working out, you can use equipment-free routines like this Pilates session to boost your lower-body muscle.

"Working our legs keeps us strong, functional and fit,” says Korin Nolan, founder of Power Pilates UK and The Class Plan.