Monday's Move of the Week

Get excited...here is the first ever Monday's Move of the Week. Check back each Monday for a challenging and effective move to add to your workout.

Move: Jump Squats

I know what you're all thinking...."ugh...not jump squats!" But here's the deal: you can do them anytime, anywhere, they are both a strength and cardio move so they are extremely efficient. PLUS, you are scorching through calories AND building bone density. Not convinced yet? Jump Squats also provide balance and core training. So give them a try!

Muscles worked: Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Glutes, and Calfs

How to:

1. Stand with feet shoulder width a part. Hands can be to the side, behind the head or out front.
2. Slowly put your glutes back into a squat position (like you were sitting back in your chair). You should aim to get your thighs parallel to the floor and take care that your knees do not go over your toes.
3. From the squat pose jump up as high as you can, land with soft knees (do not lock them) and continue down into the squat position and repeat.

Make 'em harder: Try jump squats on a BOSU ball or try clicking your heels together when you jump up.

I personally like to incorporate jump squats (10-20 reps) into my workouts between sets for some extra intensity.

Enjoy!