Five Exercises to Improve Speed and Agility
Posted on 28. Aug, 2011 by Emvnet in MonaVie EMV
Whether you’re a world-class sprinter or just an office flunky tired of getting hit with spitballs, being faster than everyone else is a talent worth possessing. But do you know how to make that happen? Here are our top five exercises to improve your speed and agility.
5: Step aerobics
They aren’t just for the ladies – step aerobics provide a valuable way to test your reaction time for men *and* women. As a bonus, the repetitive motions build muscle memory and the simplicity of the exercise makes it easily adaptable for any workout. Step faster, harder, or at an angle to optimize the effects of your fitness regime, or shorten the time of your steps to kick things up a notch. Step aerobics can offer some really great cardio!
4: Jump rope
One of the easiest exercises in the world, jump rope requires nothing more than a rope and lots of patience. You can customize the speed and height of your jumps at will. Make a habit of the practice and you’ll improve your strength, endurance, breathing patterns, and hand-eye coordination. To really step it up, try double dutch.
3: Lunge!
Lunges strengthen the quads and build muscles where speed junkies need them most – the legs. The “down” position is also a pretty good simulation of your body’s contortions during a sprint, and the more your muscles remember that feeling, the less effort they’ll need to expend it, thereby making you faster.
2: Running through the woods
Running, of course, is one of the best exercises for improving your speed, but going off the track and into the woods is what will improve your agility too. You’ll test your reflexes by ducking and dodging, and you’ll improve your hand-eye-foot coordination by reacting to unexpected obstacles as they appear. Just make sure you own a durable pair of running shoes!
1: Parkour
Originally a French exercise of speed and self-discipline, parkour has been adopted as both hobby and sport by followers around the world. The gist of the practice is to treat the world like an obstacle course – one you have to overcome. Those experienced in parkour can flip off basketball hoops and vault across rooftops, but you can start by learning how to roll and perhaps jump down the stairs. The more you practice and the more Monavie you drink, the more you’ll be prepared for anything!
