Lower body toning exercises can be intimidating for those who have never worked out before or haven't worked out for a long time. They can be equally troubling if you are severely overweight or feel that you aren't in good enough condition to perform the complicated moves you see on television or through a variety of workout DVDs and magazines that feature exercises that may be too advanced for you.

If you have ever stepped into a gym and felt out of place or self conscious, then the thought of performing lower body toning exercises or implementing them into a workout seems daunting. There are some very intense, complicated movements that professionals and those in great shape use to tone and strengthen the lower body, but there are also some very simple efficient movements that are a heck of a lot easier than you think.

Lower body toning exercises don't have to be intense. They don't have to be overly complicated and technical to be effective. You don't have to twist your body into embarrassing positions to work the lower body either.

What a beginner, who hasn't worked out for a long time, needs in the beginning are simple straight forward movements that can start working the muscles in your legs, hips, butt and thighs. These exercises need to be a little challenging to be effective, but they should not leave you feeling wiped out on the floor. There may just be some shakiness in the muscle and soreness after performing them – but that’s to be expected when you’re training muscles that haven’t been used in that manner for a while.

With time, simple lower body toning exercises will increase your confidence with your training routine. As you get stronger you can then add repetitions or try something a little more challenging. As your exercises become easier to perform take this as encouragement because it shows that you are making improvements and your body is responding to your workout.

When first starting out, that confidence boost and those signs of improvement are extremely important. As it helps motivate you to keep progressing and is flat out evidence that you can do this. With consistency comes results. It won’t take long before you’ll be performing lower body toning exercises that you never imagined you’d even consider tackling.

If you are just starting out and aren't sure what lower body toning exercises you can actually do, here is a quick list to get you started:

1. Make sure you are doing every exercise with proper form. Your chances of injury go up when you do movements incorrectly.

2. Don't get intimidated if a movement feels difficult at first. There has to be a bit of challenge for an exercise to be effective.

3. Be consistent and focused with your lower body workouts. If you continually skip workouts and get off track it will take much longer to see progress.

4. Start with lower body toning exercises that you are already familiar with, such as squats and lunges. Just stepping up and down on a step of low height step can deliver some benefits and give a less intimating start. Or if that’s too difficult for you, there are some fantastic matt and floor exercises that you can perform for your butt, thighs and calves!

You can also get suggestions for beginner level lower body toning exercises through online videos, DVDs, or just booking a session with a personal trainer. Just one session with a trainer will give you the opportunity to ask questions and learn a variety of movements for the lower and upper body.