It's 2015, and most of us have already grown tired of our new year's fitness resolutions. Whether you have to wake up early or go after working, getting to the gym isn't easy. But what if someone told you that you didn't have to get to the gym every day to live a healthier lifestyle? What if you could use a unique part of your home to get a thorough workout?
It's time to begin utilizing your staircase to reach your fitness goals this year.
There's no need to go to the gym and use the stair stepping machine when you have a staircase of your own. You can either set aside 20 minutes to do each of these workouts three times each, or you can sprinkle them throughout your day. Whatever you decide to do, make it fit into your life so that you can stick to it.
Here are four staircase workouts for you to try:
- Hop Ups: This leg workout is also good for your quads and calves. Hold your arms bent at your side with your feet shoulder width apart facing the staircase. Hop up to the first stair, both feet at the same time, then back down again. Your toes should be in line with your knees. Hop up and down ten times in a row then take a moment to breathe and repeat.
- Step Ups and Downs: Face the staircase, then step up on the first stair with your right foot. Follow with your left foot. Then return with back down in the same order, right foot down then left. Do this for one minute and then rest for 30 seconds. Repeat three times.
- Backward Climb: Face the opposite direction of your staircase, and walk up your staircase backwards. Be aware of the space between each step and maintaining your balance. Take each step one at a time until you reach the top, then return down the stairs while facing forward and repeat.
- Skip a Step: Climb your staircase using your arms to propel you forward. Skip a one stair with every step. Once you've mastered this, you can begin skipping two steps at a time. By elongating your stride, you're increasing the work load for your legs and getting a cardio workout.
Each of these exercises requires you to pay attention to every step to avoid missing a step or falling. Please use caution when utilizing your staircase for your fitness needs. If you're looking for a place to start with your next stair remodel or project, visit our homepage.
- Aly Curtis
