10 Best Step Exercises: Proven Cardio & Lower Body Routine

Box jumps can be done in various ways and are a great way to develop explosive power, coordination, and balance.

These are the steps: 

• Stand with your feet slightly more than shoulder distance apart and your arms at your sides.
• Bend your knees slightly and maintain a straight posture with your eyes looking forward.
• Execute the jump with your feet forward, a slight dip of your knees, followed by an explosive extension of your hips, legs, and arms to propel yourself onto the step.
• Land in a balanced position on the box with both feet firmly planted before stepping down.
• Repeat for the desired number of reps.

Decline Push-Ups

Decline push-ups exercise will strengthen your chest and triceps muscles.

These are the steps: 

• Position yourself in a decline push-up position by placing your feet on a bench or box behind you and placing your hands on the floor shoulder-width apart at chest level.
• Inhale deeply.
• Lower yourself, stopping when your chest almost touches the floor as you exhale.
• Keep elbows tucked close to your body to maximize engagement of the triceps and chest muscles.
• Push up from the lowered position back into the starting position as you inhale.
• Do not lock your elbows when pushing back up.
• Hold a second at the top and repeat for the desired reps.

Add this variation of squat jumps to your exercise routine to improve strength and coordination.

These are the steps:

• Stand with one foot on each side of the step.
• Extend your arms out in front of you.
• Bend your knees into a wide squat position.
• Keep your head up, chest out, and back straight throughout the exercise.
• Jump up onto the step, maintaining the squat position.
• Land softly on both feet and immediately drop into the original squat position before jumping again.
• Repeat for the desired reps.

Straight Arm Plank Ups

These plank-ups are a great way to target your upper body, primarily the arms, core, and shoulder muscles.

These are the steps: 

• Have the short side of the step in front of you.
• Place your hands on the floor on each side of the step.
• Begin in a straight-arm plank position.
• Your chest will be over the middle of the step, and your body will be in a straight line from head to toe.
• Place one hand on the box and press firmly.
• Bring the other hand onto the box.
• Move the first hand back to the floor, then the second.
• Keep repeating this movement for the desired number of reps.

Box squats are one of the most effective step aerobic exercises that increase strength and power in your glutes, hamstrings, and quads.

These are the steps: 

• Start by standing up with your feet placed hip distance apart and your toes slightly pointed outward.
• Hold a light medicine ball or weight with both hands at chest level.
• Lower into a squat position until your glutes touch the box.
• Push through your feet to drive up off the box and back to the starting position with control.
• Repeat for the desired number of reps.

“The box squat targets the gluteal muscles of the buttocks. However, the hamstrings, quadriceps (front thigh), and front shin muscles are also working to perform the movement.”

- Travis Edwards, MPT, BSc

Lateral Step Ups

Lateral step-ups will target your inner thighs, glutes, and calves.

These are the steps: 

• Start by standing in a split stance, placing your left foot on the step and your right firmly on the floor.
• Place your hands either on the sides of your body or hold dumbbells for added resistance.
• Lift your body onto the aerobic stepper with your right foot.
• Slowly lower yourself back to the starting position.
• Repeat for the desired number of reps.
• Switch sides with your left foot on the floor and your right foot on the step.
• Perform the same number of reps.

A triceps dip will tone the triceps muscles and target the arms, chest, and abs.

These are the steps: 

• Place your palms on the edge of the aerobic stepper (or exercise bench) behind you, shoulder distance apart.
• Extend your legs in front of you.
• Straighten your arms - this is the starting position.
• Bend your elbows, slowly lowering your body toward the floor until they are at 90-degree angles.
• Keep your torso upright.
• Push back up to the start.
• Keep your back straight and your elbows close to your body throughout the movement.
• Repeat for the desired number of reps.

High Step-Ups

High step-ups will strengthen your leg muscles, glutes, and core and require strength, balance, and coordination.

These are the steps: 

• Stand facing the step, which should be at knee height or above.
• Place your right foot on the bench with your right knee and ankle in line.
• At this point, your left foot is on the floor.
• Engage your core and press through your right heel as you lift your left leg to step up onto the box.
• Keeping your core tight, lower yourself back to the start, keeping your right foot on the step.
• Repeat for the desired reps.
• Switch to your left leg.

Box jump burpees will challenge your full-body strength and get your blood flowing.

You can adjust the difficulty of the exercise by removing the push-up (easier) or increasing the step height (more challenging).

These are the steps: 

• Stand in front of the step, about 1-2 feet away.
• Squat down and place your hands on the floor.
• Jump your feet back, bringing yourself into a push-up position with your feet shoulder-width apart (or together to work the abdominal muscles more).
• Do one push-up.
• Jump your feet forward and then immediately leap up onto the step.
• Land with soft knees.
• Jump backward off the step and squat back down to the start.
• Repeat for the desired number of reps.