20 Minute Total Body Workout
by Lisa Druxman on June 27, 2016 in Athletics & Training, Contributing Authors, Lisa Druxman
In a hurry but still want to get in shape? Check out this awesome, quick, total body workout presented by our partners at Stroller Strides by FIT4MOM:
The way to make this work for you is to work hard the entire 20 minutes. No time for breaks! Just get in and get it done!
WARM UP (3 MINUTES)
Start with an easy walk, gradually warming up your body and your muscles. The most common postural dysfunction when pushing a stroller is hunching forward, so be sure to keep your shoulders down and back throughout your walk.
STROLLER SQUAT (2 MINUTES)
The squat is one of the best exercises for the lower body. Stand behind your stroller with the brake off, hands about shoulder width apart on the handlebars. Your feet and knees should face forward with your legs about hips width apart. Sit your bottom way back, and put your weight on your heels. Push your stroller out in front of you as you squat down, and pull it back in as you pull yourself up to a standing position. When squatting back, keep your spine long and strong, with your upper body only slightly tilted forward. A common mistake during this exercise is to bend too much from the upper body, when it should be the lower body that is reaching back.
STROLLER WALK (2 MINUTES)
Let’s do some interval training. Walk for 30 seconds as hard and fast as you can, then recover by slowing your pace a little for 30 seconds. Repeat this sequence until your 2 minutes is up.
SINGLE ARM CHEST PRESS (2 MINUTES)
This exercise is best done pushing uphill. A sloped driveway will work fine. Start with the stroller just in front of you, with one hand on the handlebar and your arm bent. Use that arm to push the stroller uphill, and focus on your chest muscles as you push. (It might help to lock the front swivel front wheel forward, for extra control.)
Return and repeat about 12 times, then switch arms.
LUNGE WALKING (2 MINUTES)
The lunge is by far one of the most effective exercises a woman can do to tone and strengthen her lower body. It’s a compound exercise, which basically means it works a lot of muscles in just one move! A good lunge will effectively work your quadriceps (front of your thighs), hamstrings (back of your thighs) and gluteus maximus (your bottom). This exercise will be part of your walk. Lunge walk by taking really long strides and lowering your upper body down until your front thigh is almost parallel to the ground. Your front knee should not go farther forward than your toes. Lower your body slowly and squeeze your thighs and glutes as you come back up.
POWER WALK (2 MINUTES)
Resume your walk using full, powerful strides. Keep your feet and knees facing forward and your body standing tall.
STROLLER ROW (2 MINUTES)
Walk back to your driveway or another small hill. This time, face the stroller downhill. Your feet should be set about as wide as your hips, hands about shoulder width apart on the stroller. Let the stroller roll forward so your arms are extended, then use your upper back muscles to pull the stroller back in to you. Focus on a strong back to pull the stroller in towards your body. (If your stroller has a wrist safety strap, be use to use it when pushing down hill.)
POWER WALK (2 MINUTES)
By now you should really be working. Keep your intensity up enough so that you are a little out of breath, but not so much that you can’t sing to your baby.
STRETCH (3 MINUTES)
Take time to stretch all the body parts we worked today. This is a great time to pull your baby out of the stroller and stretch next to her! You’ve now finished a workout comprised of strength, cardiovascular and flexibility exercises, and you’ve gotten to do it while spending quality time with your baby.
Note, because of time, we did not get do traditional abs. The trick, however, is to engage the abs during ALL MOVEMENT and ALL EXERCISES and they will get a workout! Zip up those tummies!