conditioning
Mountain Climbers
core · shoulders · quads
bodyweight · beginner
How to do it
- 1From a push-up position, drive one knee toward your chest.
- 2Alternate at a steady pace.
What to think about
- Keep the hips low and level.
What usually goes wrong
- Bouncing the hips up with each rep.
Worth knowing
- Keep your hips level rather than letting them ride up, and stop when you cannot.
Watch it
Instead of this
Cable CrunchAlso trains core, through a different movement. It is the closest match you can do.Farmer's CarryAlso trains core and forearms, through a different movement. It is the closest match you can do.Bicycle CrunchAlso trains core, through a different movement. It is the closest match you can do.Lying Leg RaiseAlso trains core, through a different movement. It is the closest match you can do.
What the cautions rest on
The safety points above come from these, not from house opinion.
- Strength and muscle gain require progressively increasing demand over time.
- Adults benefit from regular aerobic activity across the week alongside muscle-strengthening work on two or more days.
- The energy cost of an activity can be estimated from its MET value, bodyweight and duration.
Who checked this
Nobody qualified has. These are standard coaching points and ordinary gym safety, written down: how to set the thing up, what to control, and when to stop a set. They are not a clinical opinion and no physiotherapist or strength coach has read them back. If they disagree with somebody who can actually see you lift, believe that person.