Burpee

This weeks exercise is a Burpee!  It is a very popular exercise used in group fitness classes and boot camps but I would say it’s not a very popular exercise for the people doing it!  The reason being is it is a challenging exercise that will test your strength and cardiovascular endurance.  Any full body movement that involves jumping gets the heart rate up high because all those working muscles are trying to get oxygen and your blood brings that oxygen to them.  More muscles used = increased cardiac output and increased oxygen uptake.

The Burpee shown in this video is a modified basic version and the burpee at the end is a regular basic version.  As I mentioned before, it is a full body movement working the muscles in your upper and lower body as well as strengthening your core, improving coordination and building cardiovascular endurance.  There are many variations to this exercise and I will be showing more versions in the future because I know how everyone just loves Burpees! 🙂

Running Mountain Climber

This is a great exercise to work your core and can also be used as a cardiovascular component to your routine.  Always keep your stomach tight and your hips as low as possible to target the correct muscles.  You may also touch the leading foot to the ground instead of keeping it up in the air.  15 to 30 seconds is a good amount of time for this exercise to get your heart pumping!

Free Full Body Workout

Hello everyone!

I have added a free full body workout for you that can be done at home or at the gym.  All that is needed is some dumbbells, a stability ball, and a mat!  This full body circuit routine will strengthen all the major muscle groups while giving you an endurance building cardiovascular workout!

Click here to view the workout.

*This workout is in PDF format.  Click on the Fitness Routines tab at the top to download the latest version of Adobe Reader if needed*

(Before doing any exercise routine please consult with your physician. Discontinue any exercise that causes you pain or severe discomfort and consult a medical expert)