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Wellness
Want to level-up your regular workouts and improve your speed and strength? Plyometric exercises are a great add-on to your routine
Katrina Kaif's workout routine isn't for the faint of heart. “Generally, she does a mixture of Pilates, functional training, plyometrics and cardio every single day,” shared her long-time trainer Yasmin Karachiwala back in 2016, proving that her gruelling multi-format workouts are the key to a fit and balanced body. “It is very important to keep your workout session fun and interesting. If not, the temptation to just not go to the gym can be huge,” shared Kaif.
Plyometrics, or jump training, isn't as popular as other workout forms due to its high impact, but its benefits are many. It includes jumps and hops that stretch the muscles and contracts them to build more power and strengthen them. Improving elasticity is the key to performing better in your other workout forms, which is why Plyometrics is a great addition to your routine if you already do cardio or strength training exercises. When muscles are open and stable, you are able to run faster, jump higher and work more efficiently, reducing the chance of injuries along the way too.
Plus, plyometrics moves are usually very fast-paced and explosive, which increases the heart rate and expends more energy than usual in a typical strength-training session. These movements (like jumping squats, leg hops and clapping push-ups) are designed to improve coordination, as well as strength and speed.
If you're a neophyte, jumping exercises can cause more harm than good if you don't pay attention the right technique. These videos are quick tutorials on how to take a regular exercise (like a lunge or squat) and build it up to a jumping version.
You won't need any gym equipment or weights for this, but you'll be switching between jumping movements and ab exercises throughout, ensuring a full-body workout that'll have you winded by the end.
Who says workouts have to be long to work? This 10-minute sequence doesn't waste any time, so you'll be doing exercises like burpees and jumping squats until you're exhausted. The short time commitment means that you can fit it into your schedule, no matter what.
If you want to improve performance in any sport that involves running, jumping or kicking, adding a plyometric routine to your workout can help considerably. This one can help you get warmed up and ready the next phase of your exercise.
Plyometric exercises can be high impact, so knowing the correct ways to move is important. You can follow this step-by-step video to build speed and upgrade your personal bests.
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