It's easy to walk into the gym and see only the big picture: Cardio machines, weight machines and dumbbells. Take a closer look, though, and you’ll see smaller tools lying around — and most are going unused. “It’s a mistake to avoid any equipment at the gym, because it is important to keep our bodies surprised and try new things,” says Sonya Roosendaal, a Los Angeles–based, American Council on Exercise (ACE)–certified personal trainer. Adding these tools to your routine challenges your muscles in new ways, so they have to work harder to perform each move, meaning you get fitter faster. Plus, by working several muscles with each move, they keep your heart rate up so you burn more calories and save time. Here, how to use the five tools you’re used to leaving ignored on the gym floor. Use at least one tool during each workout this week, or use all five for a full-body tone-up.

Tool: Resistance Mini-Band

What it is: An elastic loop that’s about 9 inches long and 2 inches wide. The band stretches up to three times its length.
Why you should use it: The mini-band tones the hips and glutes without bulking up the legs. The exercise below will keep you moving, to torch calories while firming the muscles.
Try this: Side step

MORE ON FITNESS

Works: Gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, hip abductors
Do it: Place the band around both ankles and stand with feet hip-width apart. Lower into a squat. Keeping your knees bent in a low squat and your feet hip-width apart, take 10 to 15 tiny steps to the right. Then take 10 to 15 steps to the left. Repeat 3 times on each side. Make sure your knees stay over your feet as you step (do not let them bow out or cave in).

Tool: Valslide

What it is: A pair of discs with slippery bottoms that create an unstable surface to challenge your muscles
Why you should use it: The Valslide tones the legs, lifts the booty and gets the heart rate up.
Try this: Reverse lunge
Works: Quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteus medius, gluteus maximus and adductors
Do it: Put your hands on your hips and place the ball of your right foot in the center of the slide, keeping your heel up. Keeping the left foot stationary on the floor, slide the right leg backward. At the same time, bend the left knee to 90 degrees, so you’re in a lunge position (make sure to keep the knee directly over the ankle). To come up, press down into the floor with the left foot, engage the left quad, and slide out of the reverse-lunge position back to standing. Repeat, taking 2 counts to lower and 2 counts to come back to standing. Do 2 to 3 sets of 12 to 15 reps on each leg.

Tool: Bosu Ball

What it is: Half a Swiss ball with a flat plastic bottom to keep it in place
Why you should use it: Each move works your whole body, especially your core.
Try this: Crunches
Works: Rectus abdominus, external obliques, internal obliques and transverse abdominus
Do it: Sit on a side of the ball, between the top and the floor, so that your glutes and hips are positioned on the Bosu. Your knees should be directly over your ankles, and your feet should be planted flat on the floor, hip-width apart, toes pointed straight ahead. Interlace your hands behind your head and, engaging your core, lean back until you touch the top of the Bosu with your upper back. Using your abs, return to a starting position. Do 2 to 3 sets of 15 to 30 reps.

Tool: Resistance Bow-Tie Band

What it is: Rubber tubing in a figure-8 shape with foam handles
Why you should use it: You’ll create firmer underarms and an etched upper back, highlighted by defined shoulders
Try this: Push-outs
Works: Latissimus dorsi (a.k.a. “lats”), deltoids, biceps and external obliques Do it: Place the center of the bow-tie band across the low back. Hold a handle in each hand, bend your elbows to 90 degrees and raise the arms so your upper arms are parallel with the ground and your palms are facing forward. Straighten arms and extend them out to the sides, keeping them low, near hip level. Return to starting position. Do 2 to 3 sets of 12 to 15 reps.

Tool: Step-up Blocks

What it is: An elevated surface that you adjust from 6 to 10 inches off the floor
Why you should use it: Step-ups are a great way to strengthen your legs and mix up your workout.
Try this: Step-knee drive
Works: Quadriceps, hamstrings, hip abductors, gluteus maximus and gluteus medius
Do it: With your hands on your hips, plant the right foot in the center of a block and step the left leg back about a leg’s distance away from the block — your right knee should be bent into a 90-degree lunge position (with knee directly over the ankle). Holding this lunge position with the right leg, drive the left knee upward toward your chest — keeping your back straight and your glutes squeezed tight — and then bring the foot back to the starting position on the floor. Repeat, and continue driving the knee up and lowering it down at a steady pace for 20 to 40 seconds. Repeat on the opposite side.