Would you like to make your Step Aerobics More Intense?... keep reading!

Would you like to make your Step Aerobics More Intense?... keep reading!

If you do not know how to add intensity to your Freestyle Step Class, you have not tried hard enough!. There are so many creative ways to do so, you'd be amazed!

Many certified personal trainers agree that there are many ways to make a freestyle step class more intense.

Clearly, one is to add more risers. That's a no brainer. However, although Step is to be fun, it is also to be safe. Many instructors may raise a concern should you attempt to have 3 or more raisers under your step. The instructor is within his power to advise you if he finds your step configuration safe, and if any injuries be your responsibility should you , heaven's forbid, fall during his class.

Adding intensity to a step aerobics class:

• Lunge step. Should the routine call for one of these moves, you could increase its intensity if you add a small jump/hop to it. If you find that this is not intensity enough, why not go down deeper?..... more? do you want more? .... lean forwards at the hips when you lunge, and touch the step. That should do it!!.

• Repeaters. Again, increase its intensity by going deeper as well as adding that small jump/hop when that knee is being raised. Surely your sweat will start to glimmer on your forehead with this one.

• Basic, knee, straddle and turn steps. Here you can include the little jump/hop or even a full-out single-leg jump. Why not add a jogg when you are on the top of the step? and on the floor?.... wanna get fancy? why not replace the basic or knee with two-legged jumping onto the step?. Straddles can also be "jumped": that is from the straddle position, jump up onto the stepper, both feet landing at the same time, then jump off. If you can't keep up with the instructor's tempo, slow to half speed to match her every other step.....

More ways to make a freestyle step aerobic class more intense:

• This one is for "non highly choreographed" classes. Add very small dumbbells to the arm chore.

 

• Wear a weighted vest or weighted backpack. Check with your doctor for any specific medical issues you may have that would cause issues should you used this option.

• For brief segments of the class, increase to two or three risers.

• Got a turn step within the routine? why not insert a deep squat at the end of every turn step?. In fact, make it a deep squat into a jump squat. Just be aware that you will need to move very quickly to keep up.