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Straddle Squat Jumps is a plyometric exercise that strengthens the glutes and legs muscles as well as providing cardiovascular benefits. A plyometric exercise uses explosive movements to build strength and to condition the muscles and heart. The exercises themselves are forms of jumping. You perform an explosive move and each time you land your muscles get a stretch allowing you to jump with a little more power the next time.
If you learn how to do Straddle Squat Jumps you will have a basic plyometric move in your routine that only requires a few repetitions to be effective for great cardio benefits and a high calorie burn!
Plyometrics used to be used mostly by athletes to improve performance. Fitness professionals everywhere started to see the benefits for everyone and, consequently, you will now find them in many different types of workouts.
Straddle Squat Jumps will help you strengthen the muscles of your legs and your glutes. As you explode into the jump you engage the leg muscles to lift you, but more importantly the legs and glutes are going to help you land properly so that you don’t put too much pressure on your knees or joints. To top it off, by engaging your core body you will also help lessen the impact of the jump providing you with on powerhouse move!
Straddle Squat Jumps, like all plyometrics, is the perfect balance between strength and cardio. It is the type of move that will give you the “two for one” sale on fitness! Make sure you fit this move and other moves like it into part of your fitness routine.
Straddle Squat Jump Exercise Instructions
- Stand over your step with one foot on each side and sit back into a squat.
- Jump up onto the step keeping your squat position and having feet land softly at the same time. Step back down to start position and repeat.
Targets: glutes, quads, hamstrings
