Stairs are a great way to take your same old cardio workout to the next level. Changing it up by utilizing the stairs might have your muscles twitching like never before! Take a look at your workout routine, you possibly neglect your lower body more than you think. Many people consider their cardio activities their lower body workout because they are walking, running, biking, etc. Exchange your regular cardiovascular exercise for a stair workout and not only will your heart be pumping, your muscles will be telling you that stair workout gave them a run for their money!
Using the incline of the steps helps to improve your balance, coordination and trigger those smaller muscles you generally don’t target with regular machine workouts. It’s always important to kick off your workout with a warm up to wake those muscles up and get them ready for your workout. Now print this blog, and head out of your corporate worksite and find some stairs!
Basic Step – use this as a breather between exercises, one foot on each step climbing the flight of stairs. When you get to the top, turn around and walk or jog back down the stairs.
Side Squat – turn and face the right, keeping your toes forward place your left foot on the second step. Lower into a squat maintaining proper form keeping your hips back and knees in line with your ankles. Push through your left foot and straighten your leg allowing your right foot to come off the ground, slowly lower and repeat for 12-15 repetitions then perform the same with the other leg.
Mountain Climbers – you’ve done this dreaded exercise in your corporate fitness center group exercise class, so let’s throw them in here! Get in a plank position with hands placed on the second step shoulder width apart. Just as you would do if on the floor, draw knees toward your chest alternating right and left for 30 – 45 seconds. Remember, you control the exercise intensity! Push yourself to go harder.
Lunge – Think of this as skipping steps as you walk up the flight of stairs. Focus on the movement rather than just running up the stairs. It will be a small movement due to the incline of the steps, but lower into a lunge and use that front leg to drive your body up. Be sure to alternate between legs to get an even workout. Once you reach the top, turn around and walk or jog down the stairs.
Dips – sit on the second step and place hands on either side of you on the step. Keeping your knees bent slide yourself off the step with feet hip width apart. Bend your arms until your upper arm is parallel to the floor or you can’t lower any further and return to the starting position. Complete 12-15 repetitions.
Get another boost and basic step up the stairs and repeat each exercise for 2-3 rounds, push yourself and challenge your intensity level!
