Right Exercise Shoes - Your Feet Deserves More Attention
Right Exercise Shoes - Your Feet Deserves More Attention
Find out what type of exercise shoes fits you. Do not let your feet suffer.
Exercise of the Week - Crossover Step Ups
My clients regularly say things to me like, “Please teach me new, strange and more difficult exercises,” and, because I’m a very accommodating trainer, I comply. For example, this crossover step up is a recent favorite of mine, despite the fact that it is, indeed, awkward (made moreso if you use a higher step or platform). Moreover, not everyone’s knees, hips or ankles will put up with this exercise, so keep that in mind if you’re thinking of trying it. With that said, this is an excellent functional exercise.
By changing the direction of the traditional step up, you get lots of great lateral movement with both internal and external rotation of the hips. You also engage the glutes and abductors, all while working on your coordination and balance. My, my.
The biggest decision to make is with the height of your platform. As I mentioned, this is an awkward exercise that requires practice and patience, so I’ve found that starting out at a lower level (say, with a step on 1-2 risers or a platform that’s about a foot off the ground) works best to get a feel for the exercise. Once you’ve mastered it, try it at a higher level (e.g., a height where your thigh is parallel to the floor).
Do it right: Stand with your right side facing a step, bench or platform and hold weights if desired. Lift the left foot and cross it over the right leg, placing the foot flat on the step. Keep your hips square to the front of the room as you press up with the left leg, bringing the right foot beside the left. Step back down with the right foot and repeat for 1-3 sets of 8-16 reps.
Exercise of the Week - Crossover Step Ups originally appeared on About.com Exercise on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at 06:00:54.