No traditional gym equipment required for this full body workout…only a piece of luggage!

By Jon-Erik Kawamoto, MSc, CSCS, CEP

Well, we’re still stuck at home and many are looking for home workout ideas. In addition to our 2 Dumbbell Home Workout and Full Body Band Workout, here’s a full body home workout you can do in your living room, all with a large piece of luggage. Fill it with clothes, zip it up and here we go!

The Workout

This workout is designed to be performed 1-2x/week. You’ll do all 5 exercises in a row with minimal rest in between.

Exercise #1 – Overhead Alternating Reverse Lunge

home workout
Overhead Alternating Reverse Lunge Start
home workout
Alternating Overhead Reverse Lunge Bottom

How – Hold the piece of luggage overhead with your arms straight. Stand with your feet hip width apart. Take a large step back and land on your big toe joint. Bend your knee as you kneel toward the floor. Gently touch the floor with your knee and push off your rear leg and push down with your front foot to return to standing. Alternate sides. Make sure to keep your arms straight throughout the set. 

Do – 15 reps per side

Exercise #2 – 2 Point Luggage Row

home workout
2 Point Row Start
home workout
2 Point Row Top

How – Stand with your feet hip width apart, soften your knees and bend over at your hips. Keep your back flat and abs braced. Grab the side loop on the piece of luggage and put your opposite arm straight as if pushing onto a workout bench. Brace your abs and keep your torso still and row the bag up. Squeeze your shoulder toward your opposite hip. Lower the bag but don’t touch the floor. 

Do – 15 reps per side

Exercise #3 – Front Loaded Good Morning

home workout
Front Loaded Good Morning Start
home workout
Front Loaded Good Morning Bottom

How – Stand with your feet hip width apart and cradle the bag in your arms in front of your chest. Soften your knee and bend over at your hips. Keep your back flat and abs braced. Bend to a 90-degree hip angle and notice tension in your hamstrings. Return to standing and squeeze your glutes.

Do – 15 reps

Exercise #4 – Half Kneeling Luggage Overhead Press

home workout
Half-Kneeling Overhead Press Start
home workout
Half-Kneeling Overhead Press Top

How – Kneel on one knee with your opposite leg in front. Form a 90-degree angle at your front knee, get tall and hold the bag in front of your chest with your elbows pointing down. Brace your abs and squeeze your glute on the kneeling leg. Press the bag overhead and stack your wrists over your shoulders. Move your head back and return the weight to your chest. 

Do – 10 reps per knee

Exercise #5 – Luggage Weighted Leg-V Sit-Up 

home workout
Leg-V Sit-Up Start
home workout
Leg-V Sit-Up Top

How – Lie with your back on the ground and your legs open in the shape of a “V.” Hold the bag in front of your chest. Use your abs to sit up. Sit to a tall posture and support the bag with your elbows pointing down. Slowly lie back down using your abs. When you sit up, do not lift your legs.

Do – 15 reps

Once you finish 1 round, take 90-seconds rest and start over. Do 5 total sets.

Have fun with this home workout. Remember, try and do 5 total sets and feel free to do this workout 1-3x/week.


Jon-Erik Kawamoto, MSc, CSCS, CSEP is a Strength and Conditioning Coach, Co-owner and Founder of JKConditioning. With 15 years in the industry and over 10 years as a freelance fitness writer, Jon has helped many change their lives through fitness. To inquire about coaching, workshops, presentations or writing, you can contact him through our Contact Us page. (photo credit: Jim Mullowney Photography)

Do you have weights at home, but not sure what to do? We offer Online Strength Coaching. Receive a custom workout based on what equipment you have, your goals, needs, and current ability. Only 1-week commitment required.

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Find out more HERE.

I started training at JKC in 2016 because I’ve always had upper back issues that became aggravated through work. I sought out other training and physio, but experienced little to no results. A client of mine happened to be coming to JKC for a similar issue and highly recommended it. I have had great success and haven’t looked back! I always feel like I’m getting programs tailored to my needs and I’m never bored. I’m 30 weeks pregnant now with my second child and have been able to workout through both pregnancies here at JKC. Even on my least mobile days, I felt safe to workout because my programs were specifically modified for my needs.

After my children were born, I was completely out of shape. I had been active before my first pregnancy in 2008. I saw a post on social media about a charity event that was hosted at the gym. It prompted me to check out the JKC website. I was immediately impressed by the professional content and decided to give it a try. The professionally crafted and uniquely tailored work outs, as well as the sense of accountability and commitment that they foster. I have not missed a workout since joining – contrary to other experiences I have had when purchasing gym memberships. The flexibility of booking and rescheduling workouts, made easy by an online app, also contributed to my success in meeting my fitness goals.

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I chose JKC originally to help prevent rowing injuries. I’m a rower and we won the St. John’s Regatta in 2019 but I rowed through a rib stress fracture and missed significant time in the boat during the racing season. Training at JKC consistently since the pandemic helped me stay injury free this year and made me the strongest I’ve ever felt, which helped me help my team win the 2021 St. John’s Regatta! Jon adds variety and mixes the exercises up well so that the workout goes by quickly and strength is gained. The gym is very personable and I like the eclectic mix of people that are there. JKC is much more intimate and personal than other gyms.

I’m 30 — started at JKC Aug 2016. I moved to NL to open lululemon and we chose Jon as one of our store’s ambassadors, did one workout and have raved about it ever since! The JKC team can adapt a workout no matter what the situation — injuries, new goals, you name it! The trust and expertise can’t be matched!

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