How to make stairs your friend and a mini workout

How to make stairs your friend and a mini workout

For those of you who have video challenges, or slow wifi, or just like to read:

Going up

In this video I am on the way up a staircase. Sometimes this is the most dreaded activity some of my clients face in day, and I want to give you some food for thought on how to think of staircases as your friends rather than some horrible thing that you have to get through. So, when you are coming up the stairs, what you are trying to do is pick your leg up with your favorite leg-picker-upper muscle.

To find that muscle you are going to bring that knee up to ninety degrees and then err to the midline of your body just a little bit, because if you are out here looking for your hip flexor, you’ll be looking all day. Don’t be a cowgirl or a cowboy! You are going to pick that leg up, find that hip flexor, its right here in the front of the crease of the hip, real deep in that hip, and you are going to put your heel down and you’re going to drive thru that heel and you are going to use my favorite glute and hamstring muscle.

Then you are going to do the same thing on the other leg. Find that hip flexor muscle and put your foot down, drive thru that heel and use that glute and hamstring.

Hip flexor, glute, and hamstring;

Hip flexor, glute, and hamstring.

Stairs do not have to be a dreaded thing!

Coming down

Now what happens when you have to go back down the stairs? Well, you’ve spent all this time finding your hip flexors – so let’s use them on the way down, too. You’re going to pick your leg up, find that hip flexor, and land in that hip. Don’t land in the knee, don’t land in the ankle, and watch the direction of the knee. If it is collapsing in, that can also be problematic and make knees super sore.

Find your hip flexor, and land in the hip. Find your hip flexor, land in the hip. Find your hip flexor, land in the hip.

Don’t forget coming back up: Lots of good hip muscles can be engaged! Hip flexor, glute, and hamstring. Hip flexor, drive thru that heel, glute, and hamstring.

Wishing you happy staircase running-up-and-downing.

Friendly Tip: Don’t buy a house with just one level. Staircases can be your friend and a really great way to kick in some good hip muscles.

Ok, this was my quick fitness tip for today, and here’s to balance, strength, and happiness.

Let me know in the comments below if you have befriended your staircase!