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SparkPeople has always promoted the benefits of a 10-minute workout as a great way to start incorporating fitness into your life. Studies have shown that the benefits of 10-minute fitness bursts, including improved blood sugar control, can last for up to an hour after your workout ends! Whether you aim for just a few minutes at a time, several short workouts throughout the day, or cut yourself off at the 10-minute mark, we've got plenty of ideas for you to squeeze in cardio in as little as 60 seconds! Here are 10 cardio moves you can use to build a custom workout that works for you and your schedule—no equipment required. There are several ways to approach this:
60-Second Cardio Moves
1. High Knees March in Place  Starting Position: Stand tall with your back straight, abs engaged, shoulders relaxed, and hands on your hips. Action: Breathe deeply as you march in place with high knees, driving your knee up toward the ceiling with each step. Keep your hands on your hips as your march. Special Instructions: Make sure you don't lean backward as you lift your knee each time. Lift your knees higher and/or march faster to increase the intensity. 2. V-Steps  Starting Position: Stand tall with your back straight, abs engaged, shoulders relaxed, feet together, arms at your sides, elbows bent. Action: Picture a V on the floor with your feet standing on the bottom point. Breathe deeply as you step forward and back with the following foot pattern while pumping your arms at your sides: left step (forward) to the left point of the V, right step (forward) to the right point of the V, left step (back) to the bottom point of the V, right step (back) to the bottom point of the V. Repeat. Special Instructions: For variety, you can also switch legs to lead with the right foot instead of the left foot (optional).You can increase the intensity of this exercise by taking bigger steps and/or moving more quickly. You can decrease the intensity by taking smaller steps, moving slower, and/or placing your hands on your hips. 3. Reverse Disco Step  Starting Position: Stand tall with your back straight, abs engaged, shoulders relaxed, legs placed wider than the hips and feet turned outward. Place both hands on your hips. Action: Breathe deeply and reach your left arm across your chest at a diagonal toward the ceiling. Pull your left hand down and across the front of your body toward the floor as you tap your right toes behind your left foot. Return to the starting position and repeat on this side (pictured) OR switch sides repeatedly. Special Instructions: Move quicker and/or take larger steps to increase intensity. Slow down and make your movement smaller to decrease intensity. 4. Step Touch with Double Punches  Starting Position: Stand tall with your back straight, abs engaged, shoulders relaxed and elbows pointing behind you, palms next to your waist. You can place a resistance band, measuring tape, jump rope or other long object on the floor next to you as a guide (optional). Action: Breathe deeply as you step-touch side to side while punching both arms forward on each step to the side and pulling them back in to the starting position on each tap (touch). Special Instructions: If using a guide on the floor, step across it each time and monitor your footwork to avoid tripping. Be sure to move laterally without twisting or rotating your body. The wider you step to the side and the faster you move, the more intense this exercise will become. 5. Twisty Hop  Starting Position: Stand tall with your back straight, abs engaged, shoulders relaxed, legs together, arms at your sides, and elbows bent 90 degrees with your forearms parallel to the floor in front of you. From there, twist from the waist so that your torso (and arms) turn to the right and your lower body turns toward the left. Action: This movement combines a twist with a hop. From the start position, hop with both legs together and land so that your lower body now points toward the right and the upper body twists to the left. Hop again, landing in the start position and repeat, twisting to the opposite side during each hop. Special Instructions: Because of the twisting nature of this exercise, practice caution or avoid this exercise completely if you have any lower back or hip problems. Make sure your back is straight and your abs are engaged at all times. When twisting your upper and lower body should always point in opposite directions of each other. Focus on that twisting coming from the waist. Hopping higher and/or faster will increase the intensity of this movement. 6. Jumping Jacks  Starting Position: Stand tall with your back straight, abs engaged, shoulders relaxed, arms at your sides, and feet together. Action: Hop out with both feet while extending your arms out, forming an X with your arms and legs. Hop back in to the starting position (legs together, arms at your sides). Repeat. Special Instructions: Be sure to land softly, keeping the knees slightly bent to reduce impact. Move more quickly to increase the intensity. 7. Mountain Climbers  Starting Position: Stand tall with your back straight, abs engaged, shoulders relaxed, legs together, and arms at your sides. Bend forward to touch the floor (bend knees if necessary), shift your weight into your hands, then jump or walk your legs behind you to start in a plank position (hands under shoulders, abs pulled in tight, body in a straight line). Action: Breathe deeply, keeping your back straight and abs engaged and "march" by bringing one knee toward your chest, return it to the floor, and then bring the opposite knee toward your chest. Repeat, continuously switching sides. Special Instructions: Keep your belly pulled in tight at all times and make sure your hips do not fall toward the floor or lift toward the ceiling as you move your legs. You can march in this position (pictured) for a lighter intensity or move more quickly into a jog or run to increase your intensity. 8. Front Kicks with Squat  Starting Position: Stand tall with your back straight, abs engaged, shoulders relaxed, arms at your sides, elbows bent and feet hip-width apart. Make fists with your hands and bring your hands up in front of your chin as if in "defense." Keep arms up at all times. Action: Breathe deeply, and squat down, shifting your weight into your heels while bending from the knees and hips. Push up out of your squat and shift your weight into your left to perform a front kick with your right leg (lift your right left knee toward the ceiling, extend your right knee to straighten your leg, then bend your knee again. Return your foot to the floor and squat down again. Repeat front kicks on this leg OR alternate legs after each kick (not pictured). After several repetitions on this leg, switch sides. Special Instructions: Keep your abs engaged, the knee of your standing leg slightly bent, and find a focal point in front of you to aid in balancing. Try to avoid leaning back as your kick to the front. Make sure your knee does not lock when you extend your leg. To increase intensity, squat lower, kick higher and/or move faster. To decrease intensity, squat smaller, kick lower to the floor, and move slower. 9. Back Kicks  Starting Position: Stand with your back straight, abs engaged, shoulders relaxed, elbows bent, hands in fists, feet together, and hands up in front of your chin as in in "defense." Keep your arms up at all times. Bend your knees and hips to come into a small squat, leaning slightly forward from the waist. Action: Breathe deeply, shifting your weight into your left foot to prepare to kick your right leg. A proper kick should string together four phases: 1) Bend your right knee and lift your foot off the floor bringing your leg slightly behind you. 2) Extend your right knee to straighten your leg (foot flexed) to kick an imaginary target behind you. 3) Bend your knee again. 4) Return your foot to the floor. Repeat back kicks on this leg OR alternate legs after each kick (not pictured). After several repetitions on this leg, switch sides. Special Instructions: Keep your abs engaged, the knee of your standing leg slightly bent, and find a focal point in front of you to aid in balancing. Limit the amount of forward leaning as your kick to the back. Make sure your knee does not lock when you extend your leg. Kick lower to the floor to decrease intensity or higher to increase intensity. Slow down or speed up depending on your fitness level. 10. Pivot and Reach  Starting Position: Stand tall with your back straight, abs engaged, shoulders relaxed, legs spaced wider than your hips, feet turned outward and knees bent slightly. Place your hands on your hips. Action: Keeping both feet on the floor at all times, breathe deeply and pivot on the ball of your left foot (heel off the floor) and turn your body toward the right while reaching your left arm overhead next to your ear. Return to the starting position, facing front, hands on hips. Switch sides by pivoting on the ball of your right foot, turning your body toward the left and reaching your right arm overhead. Return to center. Switch sides and repeat. Special Instructions: Keep your abdominals engaged throughout this exercise. To increase intensity, move more quickly and/or squat more deeply when returning to the start position each time. What are your favorite ways to add short bouts of exercise to your day? |
