Plyometric Exercise Options

Plyometric exercises are short-burst movements that involve propelling your body off the ground. These movements require a lot of energy and burn calories during and after exercise. Plyometric training is often categorized as high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Recently, many exercise scientists and elite trainers have attested to the effectiveness of plyometric exercise over steady-state cardio: the traditional mode of cardiovascular exercise. Steady-state cardio is repetitive motion performed at a sustained level of intensity for a certain duration. The most well-known — and overrated — form of steady-state cardio is jogging; what I call the exercise of the newbie or the uninformed. Since 2002, when my fitness journey began, I realized just how ineffective steady-state cardio is for fat loss. With further education, I learned about the fat-incinerating effects interval training and plyometric exercise and never looked back. See below for a sample plyo routine, and individual exercises you can try.

Basic plyometric exercise options:

Tip: when creating your own plyometric routine or when incorporating plyometrics with strength training, follow each high-intensity plyometric movement with a low-intensity exercise. This will ensure you can push hard with each high-intensity movement and aids with post-workout recovery.

Burpees

Box jumps (pictured above)

Split Jump (plyo lunges)

Medicine Ball Throws

180° Jump Turns

Jump Tucks

Broad Jumps

Verticle Jumps

Alternate Bound

Squat Jump

Box Depth Jumps

 

Sample Workout:

Round one:

• Box jumps X 8 – 10
• Alternating battle rope slams X 15
• Side steps – 30 seconds

Round two:

• Burpees – 60 seconds
• Step toe taps – 30 seconds
• Jumping lunges – 30 seconds

Round three:

• Rope slams – 30 seconds
• Kettlebell swings X 10
• Step shuffle – 30 seconds

Repeat above rounds 3-4 times.

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More options:

Sprint Intervals

Step moves

Plyometric Push-Ups

Battle Rope Exercises