The 5-Minute Finisher My Clients are LOVING!
For those who don't know, along with online personal training I train people in real life as well. All of the 'real life' personal training happens in my studio so eloquently named "The Rave Cave". Complete with LED lights, black out blinds, and the music to match, the Rave Cave is home to many awesome workouts, and of late, a finisher that my clients are LOVING.
For those who may not know what a 'finisher' is...these are short, somewhat intense, periods of exercise that either 1) get your heart rate up 2) exhaust the muscles you just worked out or 3) both!
A well balanced finisher typically takes two things in to consideration. First, the movements are relatively 'low skill' so that you don't risk hurting yourself at the end of a workout and second, movements that are polar opposites of each other so that you can actually perform the movements well without insane levels of fatigue.
Okay, with the background information shared, here's what my clients are loving...
10 seconds of short cardio followed by a 50 second plank
20 seconds of short cardio followed by a 40 second plank
30 seconds of short cardio followed by a 30 second plank
20 seconds of short cardio followed by a 40 second plank
10 seconds of short cardio followed by a 50 second plank
This finisher totals 5 minutes and provides some options in the 'short cardio' option. My clients have been enjoying battle ropes, but these intervals could be a bike sprint, high incline walking, jump rope, a sprint, or even continuous side to side shuffles or marching. The reason my clients enjoy this is that I am able to pair a lower skill movement like planks with a more intense cardio interval that matches their ability.
During one of your workouts this week, give this pairing a try and let me know what cardio option you chose!