Back to Basics: Plyometrics

We're gonna take a little break from our trip down memory lane to talk about my quest to get back to basics in the month of December.  The other day I was talking to a good friend who also happens to be one heck of an athlete and runner.  She was saying that she too wasn't doing much running and was actually doing some plyometrics.

I have to admit, my initial reaction was to recall the crazy plyo workouts of my college volleyball days.  Grueling workouts full of repeated spike approaches, jump boxes and vertical jump tests.  I could feel my quads and glutes quivering just thinking about it.  But after a little more introspection I thought it might be nice to give it a shot, you know give it the old college try (see what I did there?)  After all, it definitely is part of my make up.

What is Plyometrics you ask?

The official definition is:
"Plyometrics, also known as "jump training" or "plyos", are exercises based around having muscles exert maximum force in as short a time as possible, with the goal of increasing both speed and power"

Think HIIT meets House of Pain's "Jump Around"

You can incorporate Plyometrics a couple different ways:
1. You can do a workout exclusively of these types of exercises
2. You can sprinkle them into your current training plan to add a little jolt of gut busting. 

Either way, you win. So for about the past week or two I have been incorporating plyometrics into my workouts and I have to say it's not as bad as I remember it.  I actually, dare I say it, liked doing them.  Why?  Because it's a workout that gets your heart rate up and your muscles screaming in a short amount of time. 

There are all kinds of workouts out there that focus on these types of moves you probably just didn't know you were doing plyometrics.  But for a quick reference, here are a few of my favorite turned into a quick 15 minute workout.

And just in case you need to see these moves demonstrated, I worked out with Tim Ezell this morning on Fox 2.  Check it out.


Have you ever done plyometrics?  Are you going to try this workout? 

Wanna see more fun workouts?  Check out my Training Plans, Workout and Lists page and make sure you follow me on Bloglovin, Twitter, Instagram and/or Facebook for more fitness fun!