Here is a great workout that you can do at home with a stair or any platform that can support your weight.
A step-up is a bodyweight exercise that targets the quadriceps, hamstrings, and the gluteal muscles in the buttocks. This is what is considered to be a general lower body conditioning exercise.
You can do all of the variations in this video as a progression or choose the variation that is appropriate for your level of fitness and mobility.
The main target muscle in the Hip Bridge is the erector spinae which runs from your neck to your tailbone. Doing this exercise stretches and engages your hip abductors, gluteus maximus, and hamstrings. On the other end of the movement, the rectus abdominis, obliques, and quadriceps get a workout due to the need to stay stable.
If you are feeling adventurous, you also try adding the Marching Bridge and the Single Leg variation. But don’t get carried away, master the basic bridge before progressing.
A healthy balance of hip strength and mobility is very important to ensure everyday stability and also to prevent overuse and athletic injuries. Achieving this balance isn’t a problem if you keep it in mind, don’t sit too much for too long, and occasionally weird out your coworkers by laying down in the conference room and doing some of these hip bridges!
Walking home from the grocery store, in the rain, carrying everything on my back, I decided to add a little extra movement to my day.
No need to change clothes or set any time aside. Just some extra movement tossed in to challenge my balance, leg strength, proprioception and coordination.
Don’t tell me you don’t have time to exercise 😉
Do you get stiff and achy ankles and feet during the day? Me too. In this “Workout of the Week” I demonstrate a quick routine that you can do to keep your piggies, tootsies and ankles nice and loose and limber.