Step Benches

Step Up For Your Fitness

Small on space but big on intensity? Step benches provide a low cost, high effect workout.

Use a bench as part of a cardio workout to increase the intensity of specific movements.

Similar in style to a general aerobics class, or even dance movements, the step is adjusted in height to suit the participant's fitness level.

The Benefits

As in all aerobic exercise, you'll benefit from using your step bench by burning fat and building your endurance. It will help to strengthen your heart, improve your coordination and your flexibility.

Other benefits from using step benches include:

• Simple movements - at its most basic level, you just need to step on and off the bench!
• Burn calories and lose weight.
• Improve your balance.
• Low cost compared to other at home exercise options.
• Small space requirements.
• High variety of exercises and movements to keep you interested.
• Ability to adjust the step height as your fitness increases.
• Ability to adjust the complexity of exercises as your coordination and fitness increases.

Specific Exercises

Unlimited! Go to one step aerobics class at your local gym and see how many different exercises they incorporate on the step! There are a variety of books and videos that you can purchase with your step bench to get the full benefits.

As your fitness and ability increases, you can even begin to choreograph your own routines and make up your own steps. You can even work your abs by using the step as a brace, or work your upper arms by using the step at its highest level to do tricep dips. You're limited only by your imagination.

Brands & Pricing

The Step claims to be America's original aerobic fitness step system. They use non-skid surfaces and a stackable riser system to increase the height of the step. Their steps begin at $120 with additional stackable risers from $40.

The Step also has a SuperStep Bench System which comes with everything you need including a workout video and floor pads for $135.

Reebok have a step system with three adjustment heights including snap in legs for stability and traction surface for $110.

The Warnings

As you're jumping around your step, you are slightly more prone to injuries. Therefore always be sure to warm up, cool down, and get proper technique instruction prior to using your step.

Make sure that your entire foot is on the step - do not hang your heel off the edge. Avoid pounding the step with your foot and stay within a natural stride of the step.

Ensure that your step height matches your fitness level and experience. Lastly, ensure that you have good quality shoes to match!

If you don't want an expensive outlay, and don't have a lot of space to exercise in, but are still searching for an intense and exciting exercise routine, the step bench is suitable to meet all your needs.