Step Aerobics may have been made popular in aerobic classes and dvds during the 70’ and 80’, but aerobic step platform is the one piece of fitness equipment that your home gym might currently missing. Step platforms are actually simple and affordable tools to incorporate into any sweat sessions at home, having all the benefits of a high-intensity cardio workout without putting much stress on your joints.
Here are aerobic step platform exercises that you can do at home, targeting your legs, upper body, and core, building strength, losing weight and increase flexibility. All you need for this quick at-home full body workout is an aerobic step platform or any kind of stepper, box or bench that is stable enough for you to safely hop up and down on safely, and you can use however many risers you need to adjust your workout level.
Remember to do some warm-up before the workout. High Knee March, Jumping Jacks, Butt Kickers are all great choices. Each aerotic step exercise lasts for 50 seconds, and there is 10 seconds for rest between exercises. This circuit will take 6 minutes, while you may repeat 2-3 rounds to level up your workout.
Step Platform Exercises 1: Alt Basic Step Up
Muscle Worked: Quadriceps, hips and glutes
Technique: Make sure you get your entire foot on the aerobic step platform, raise yourself up as you come onto the aerobic step platform and push to straighten your leg while keeping your chest elevated. Keep your arms swing while alternating the leading legs.
Step Platform Exercises 2: Mountain Climbers
Muscle Worked: Deltoids, biceps, triceps, chest, obliques, abdominals, quads, hamstrings and hip abductors
Technique: Start in a plank position with arms and legs long, hands placing on the edge of the aerobic step platform. Your arms should be slightly bent other than having elbows locked, and keep your shoulders over wrists. Pull your knee to your chest. Alternate the other knee and drive it close to your chest again. Repeat and do it at your own pace.
Step Platform Exercises 3: Alt Lateral Step Up
Muscle Worked: Glutes and hamsrtings.
Technique: Stand beside the aerobic step platform. Place one foot onto the step platform, while the other foot is firmly planted on the floor. Press heel of your resting foot into the aerobic step platform and drive upward until your supporting leg becomes completely extended. Step down with the trail leg to return to starting position.
Step Platform Exercises 4: Glute Bridges
Muscle Worked: Hamstrings, gluteus, core and abdominals
Technique: Lay flat on the floor and place the heels on the edge of the aerobic step platform. Do not let your butt get too far away from the aerobic step platform. Drive through your heels, press your hips up as high as you can. Squeeze your glutes at the top and keep your core tight as you bridge up. Hold for a second or two and then lower down your hips. You may also progress it to a single leg variation to increase the the burning on gluteus.
Step Platform Exercises 5: Burpee
Muscle Worked: Full body
Technique: Start standing in front of an aerobic step platform, box, or bench of your desired height. Perform a box jump onto and off of the step platform. Then place your hands on the aerobic step and hop out to plank. Perform a push-up then hop back to standing and repeat the sequence.
Step Platform Exercises 6: Up and Downs
Muscle Worked: Abs, cores, triceps and quads.
Technique: Begin in a high plank on your hands. Put your right hand on the aerobic step platform, and straighten your right elbow. Do the same on the left to return to a high plank on the floor. You may keep the foot wider to keep better balance. Remember to keep cores engaged all the time.
Tips
- Take a complete and soft step
- Use a non-slip surfacefor safety
- Adjust the risers/height according to your fitness level
- Use weights to add difficulty
Related Product: RitFit Aerobic Step Platform is sturdy enough to support up to 300 pounds of weight. The versatility of this step platform is ideal for mixing up any workout program and more complex cardio exercises at studios and homes.
