3 Unique Bodyweight Exercises (you’ve never seen before)
Bodyweight exercises are awesome for fat loss conditioning and getting sexy results – and they will seriously kick your client’s butt.
However, let’s face it.
Bodyweight exercises can get boring.
And if your bootcamp clients are bored… it’s game over! 🙁
Today, I have 3 unique bodyweight exercises that you’ve probably never seen before…that will make you the “go-to” trainer in your hood.
My NYC clients fell in love with this concept years ago, when I introduced them to the “adrenaline rush” and they became my walking referral machines.
Bodyweight Exercise #1: Sprinting Walkout
This exercise may look simple – but it’s not. Don’t be fooled. You will need single leg stability, glute power and integration of your lower body with your core to rock this move.
Plus, this exercise is highly effective for fat loss because it creates a “metabolic flush” meaning the blood is shunted from your legs, to your upper body and back to your legs again in quick succession.
In fact, the sprinting walkout is a total body fat burner that uses every muscle in your body and the metabolic disturbance will skyrocket your afterburn, so that your client’s continue burning calories long after the workout.
Here’s how to do it:
Movement Prep
– Stand with your feet hip width apart and take a long step back on your right leg and put both hands on the floor – this is your sprinter starting position.
– Your right knee nearly touches the ground and your left thigh is parallel to the floor.
Execution
– Pushing all your weight through the heel of you left foot, drive your right knee forward and flex your hip to 90 degrees.
– Hinge forward at your hips and touch the floor with your palms
– Walk your hands forward until you are supporting all your weight on your hands and toes, in a plank position
– Your body should make a straight line and your hands should line up with your shoulders. Hold for 2 seconds
– Drive your right knee towards your left elbow
– Walk your hands back to start position and repeat
Common Mistakes
– Engage your core throughout so your hips do not drop
– Keep your shoulder blades locked down and back
Bodyweight Exercise #2: Burpee T rotation
This is my favorite twist on a classic bodyweight conditioning exercise… the burpee. You add in the rotational movement to train your core and spice up this old school move!
Here’s how to do it:
Movement Prep
– Stand shoulder width apart, arms down by your side
Execution
– Bend down, putting your hands on the ground
– Kick your legs back so they are extended in push up position
– From this position twist to the right, taking your right arm off the floor and finishing straight above your left arm
– Your body will form a T
– Repeat on the left side
– Jump back so your feet are at your hands again and jump up
– Repeat for prescribed repetitions
Common Mistakes
– Keep your core muscles engaged throughout the exercise
– Keep your hands underneath your shoulders
– Do not allow your back to round from it’s natural arch
Bodyweight Exercise #3: Single Leg RDL with Curtsy Squat
The hardest muscle groups to hit with no equipment are your upper back and hamstrings.
And that’s where this awesome exercise I’ve created comes into play… It has two separate parts, and is the ultimate hybrid move to target your glutes and hamstrings for sexy legs.
Here’s how to do it:
Movement Prep
– Stand with your feet hip-width apart
Execution
– Hinge at your hip and bend your torso towards the floor as you extend one leg behind you. Keep your neck packed in neutral position.
– Squeeze your shoulder blades together and extend your arms into a T formation
– Your neck, torso and extended leg should form a straight line
– If you have great range of motion and balance, that straight line will be parallel to the floor
– The key to perfect form is to keep your body in a straight line
– Try to “pull” yourself back through the heel and squeeze your glutes without tipping over. Be cool lovely people.
– Still keeping your right foot off the floor, perform a curtsy squat
– Return to starting position and repeat for prescribed number of repetitions
– Remember to switch legs
Common Mistakes
– Engage your core throughout the movement
– Avoid rotating your body, rounding your back or shoulders
– Keep your shoulder blades locked down and back
– Try to keep all your weight on the working leg
– Maintain your balance, avoid putting your foot down unless required
But how many reps/sets for each exercise?
Great question imaginary person…
You have two options here. You can go for:
– Repetitions/sets
– Timed circuits
Initially, you should go for reps to nail the technique. Aim for 5-10 reps of each exercise, 2-3 sets and make sure your form is spot on.
Here’s the cool thing…
Once you get the form down, you can use these exact exercises in a density set.
Density training is when you do as many reps as possible in a certain timeframe.
For example, you could use this Accelerator at the END of your bootcamp:
Do as many rounds as possible in 4 minutes. Rest only as necessary.
(A) Sprinting Walkout x 5 each leg
(B) Burpee T-rotation x 10
The idea is to do as much work as possible. Your client’s will work muscles more, causing more muscle damage. That means more calorie burning after your workout ends, while your clients are chilling on the couch.
From generating new referrals to retaining current clients, you MUST be getting client’s results for your bootcamp or group training program to be successful. If you aren’t doing Accelerators yet, it is definitely time to start. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Get more exercises like this PLUS Bodyweight Cardio 500 here
Bodyweight Cardio 500 is an aggressive 30 day workout plan that gets rapid results, with intense 20 minute Accelerator circuits so that your clients progress faster, yet safely without any equipment.
This done-for-you blueprint has 15 different workouts, and is the exact program I use for beginners through advanced. No thinking necessary. Just print this and play!
Enjoy the workouts,
Kate Vidulich, BSc, ACSM, Master CTT
Exercise Physiologist
Creator of Bodyweight Cardio 500
Also see the BW Cardio workout and Video http://THEFITNESSBOOTCAMPCLUB.COM/new-bodyweight-cardio-500-workout-video/