Have you ever gone charging up several flights of stairs when an elevator is out of service? It was quite a workout, wasn’t it? The combination of the intensity of the workout combined with the simplicity of the step movement, make step aerobics a popular way to get fit and stay fit. Step aerobics requires little in the way of equipment or space to get an intense workout that not only builds your cardiovascular fitness, it will also target and tone your butt and thighs. You can do it at home, too—you don’t need to take classes at the gym. All you need for this exercise is a flat surface (generally, a floor will do), a step platform, and a lightweight, sturdy pair of sneakers.
Step aerobics offers an intense workout. In fact, it is more intense than the same movements done on a flat floor. The step platform forces the body to give a little bit extra to step onto the platform. Another benefit is that step aerobics are low impact. They don’t stress your joints the way other aerobic exercise can. For example, if you run on concrete regularly you can damage your soft tissues from the repeated impacts. Stepping doesn’t require a lot of grace or coordination for those who have avoided aerobics classes out of fear of stumbling clumsily through a ‘dance’ class.
Many companies sell step platforms. They will try to load you up with lots of extras, however. These extras will include such things as step aerobics workout videos and step aerobic guidebooks. If you’re on a tight budget, you can make your own step platform. You can use items you can get at the hardware store, and you may even already have them around the house. You can make a step platform from very ordinary materials, like a block of wood or a cinder block, or even a milk crate. They key to a proper step platform is this: make sure that your raised platform is sturdy enough that you don’t fall and break your backside. No matter how toned your buttocks are they won’t break your fall very well.
If you are just starting out at step aerobics, start with simple up and down exercises. As you become more skilled, you can intensify your workout by stepping more quickly, raising the platform, or incorporating leg and wrist weights.
If you are going to purchase your own step equipment, it will cost you anywhere from $30 to $100. If you can afford a high-end step platform, there are some advantages. They are usually adjustable in height and so can accommodate different workout levels and skill levels.
For a beginning, 4-inch step is quite fine. As you get in better and better shape, however, you can increase your step in two-inch increments. The more expensive, adjustable step platforms thus may be the better deal in the long run. Any sort of raised platform will do to get you started, though.
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