If you think you need fancy equipment or membership to a gym to get a good workout, think again. There are very effective home workout routines with no equipment required that will tone your body and burn calories.

Remember the simple exercises you learned in elementary school gym class? Your physical education teacher was on to something and taking a trip back to the basics will benefit your body. Push-ups, sit-ups, crunches and planks will all tone and build muscle using the weight of your own body. Squats and lunges will build hamstrings, quads and gluts without touching a weight machine. To get your heart rate up, do jumping jacks and mountain climb or run up and down the stairs. You might also want to get out of the house and go for a jog or take a hike if you live near a park.

Another effective home workout routine is Pilates. By following exercises from a book, DVD or Web site, you’ll strengthen and lengthen your body and core. Similarly, you can practice yoga at home on a towel or mat without any other equipment.

And while it might not seem like a typical at-home workout routine, cleaning can build muscles and blast calories. Scrubbing the tub or washing windows requires elbow grease and you might be surprised by what a good afternoon of cleaning can do for toning muscles if you work hard.