A plyometric exercise is one that includes a stretch of the muscle, followed by an explosive movement, working the power aspect of the muscle. For example, in a jump squat, you will bend the knees and lower down towards the ground, stretching the quads and glutes, then jump straight up into the air in an explosive movement, landing back into the deep squat.
Plyometrics are found in many intense workout formats like boot camps and popular DVD series like Insanity. When plyometrics are performed over the course of 30-60 seconds, not only are the muscles being challenged, but it will become a fairly intense cardio workout as well!
Benefits of plyometrics include:
- Higher heart rate, leading to more calorie burn
- Increased muscle strength and power
- Specialized training for athletes who use techniques like jumping
Here are four plyometric exercises to add into your workouts:
- Jump Squat
- Box jumps
- BOSU plyometric push-ups
- Jumping lunges
Need more ideas for changing up your routine? Subscribe to our blog, or visit our YouTube channel for exercise demos created by our NIFS Fitness Management staff.