Workout of the Week: Mountain Climbers

Mountain Climbers

No, you won’t need Mt. Everest to complete this exercise! In fact, you don’t need any equipment at all.  Mountain Climbers are a great plyometric exercise that works your quads, chest, hamstrings, shoulders, and your core muscle groups. Plyometrics encourage muscles to exert maximum force in as short a time as possible. Here’s how you do them:

• Begin in a push-up position, keeping your back straight with your weight supported by your hands and toes.
• Flexing the knee and hip, bring one leg forward until your knee is approximately under the hip.  This is the Mountain Climber starting position.
• Next, tighten your abs and vigorously reverse the positions of your legs, extending the bent leg until the leg is straight and supported by the toe; flexing the knee, bring the opposite foot up towards your hip.
• Repeat in an alternating fashion for 20-30 seconds.

For added difficulty, try doing multiple sets of 30 seconds, or doing them for longer intervals. Try adding 20 seconds onto your time each day this week!

Want more fitness ideas?  If you’re a Health Advocate member with access to the Wellness Coaching program, reach out to your Wellness Coach for more healthy ideas to get—and stay—fit. And remember, talk to your doctor before beginning any new fitness regimen.