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 was referred to JKC by my sister-in-law and had heard good things about it from many people in the running community. I also saw Jon’s picture on the wall at lululemon years ago! I really like the personalized training and the variety the guys provide. I started for strength training for running. I love cardio and do tons of it but wasn’t motivated to do much strength work on my own. Jon mixes up my strength work week to week so I don’t get bored but also lets me work in a hard circuit for the last 20 minutes of most sessions to get my cardio fix 

I joined JKC because I wanted to better care for my physical health, but didn’t really know how, or where, to begin.  Seeking help from a trainer seemed like a wise choice, and I had heard great things about the staff at JKC. Anyone who knows me knows that I hate exercising.  So, I’ve only ever tried sticking with a gym routine twice in my life.  Each experience consisted of me wandering around, not knowing what to do, and settling for an elliptical machine or something else that seemed comfortable and non-threatening.  Each session was the same, and I felt like I was wasting my time.

Each session at JKC, however, is specifically crafted for me.  I don’t have to think about what to do, because I’m told what to do.  I don’t have to worry about how to do things properly, because I’m shown (sometimes multiple times!) how to accomplish each task.  I don’t have to be concerned about slipping into a comfortable routine, because Jon and Thomas won’t let that happen.

sumo deadlift

I had always wanted to start lifting weights and get stronger, but didn’t know where to start. I was looking not just for a gym, but for training on proper technique to prevent injury and a program designed for my specific goals. I also wanted a fun and supportive atmosphere to keep me coming back. JKC delivered on all of this and more.

Jon and Thomas have a wealth of knowledge that help their clients get the most out of their time in the gym. Programs are continuously modified to keep the workouts challenging. Even through everyone’s program is unique, you always have the coaches and other clients cheering you on and pushing you to achieve new bests.

I’m 43 and started at JKC just over a year ago. I started at JKC because of multiple recommendations from existing clients. There are 2 main elements that distinguish JKC for me. Firstly the sense of community. I’ve been to multiple gyms in multiple cities/countries, you just  can not manufacture the sense of community and support you get from other gym goers and the team. It’s very motivating and happy to say I’ve made some friends at JKC.

The other major distinguishing factor for JKC is the expertise and passion of the team. Jon, Thomas and Craig craft highly personalized programs based on my fitness goals and know how to push me best without being pushy. They pay close attention to ensuring my form is solid before encouraging me to take on more weight for the exercise. Plain and simple they love what they do and it shows.

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