Bodystep is a step-aerobics program pioneered by fitness instructor and Olympic athlete Les Mills. The BodyStep program aims to help participants lose weight and improve their overall health. Determining whether this program is for you depends on your coordination and desired results.
Program
The BodyStep exercise class is designed to be a high-energy aerobic conditioning program. The class is set to 12 musical tracks. The class begins with a warm-up then progresses to step warm-up, which emphasizes how to step correctly, according to Synergy Health & Fitness. After a brief orientation period in which you learn the basic step moves, you enter the first cardiovascular interval known as step athletic. After this, intervals range from mixed strength to speed step, where your step level is adjusted to allow you to step more rapidly. The session ends with push-ups and abdominal work, followed by a cool-down/stretch period. The emphasis on exercising different body parts can equal a beneficial full-body workout.
Fitness Level
The BodyStep program is designed to accommodate any fitness level. Beginners can use a low-height step to reduce the intensity, according to LesMills.com, the site for the BodyStep program. As exercisers begin to become more comfortable with the routines and advance in cardiovascular exercise, they can add blocks to the step to increase difficulty. However, for those with coordination issues, BodyStep might prove a technically challenging workout. Step aerobics requires repetition of patterns and specific step moves. If you do not wish to take time to learn these routines, BodyStep might not be a good program for you.
Frequency
BodyStep is recommended three times per week in order to experience best results, according to Synergy Health & Fitness, an Exeter, New Hampshire-based fitness organization. Consistently attending BodyStep workouts and increasing the intensity at which you exercise can help you maximize your workout.
Benefits
Step aerobics training, such as the exercises conducted in BodyStep, are beneficial in helping you manage your weight, maintain heart health and lung function, and boost your mood, according to the American Council on Exercise. Because the program emphasizes a combination of stretching, cardiovascular exercise and muscle-building, it represents a well-rounded exercise for those who enjoy step aerobics.
Counterindications
While BodyStep is a good workout for the general population, certain groups of people should not perform step aerobics, according to the American Council on Exercise. This includes those who have chronic knee problems. The frequent impact of the foot striking the step is absorbed to the knee and can cause pain. Speak with your physician before beginning the BodyStep exercise program to discuss ways of preventing injury.
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