How to Do a Mountain Climber Calisthenics Exercise

The mountain climber calisthenics exercise conditions your entire body and is excellent for developing foot and leg muscles. You can increase your overall stamina and core strength by doing the mountain climber. Perform this exercise properly by reviewing and executing the following steps and you can be climbing to fitness.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

1. Stand with your arms by your sides, feet together.

2. Bend down and put your hands shoulder width apart on the floor.

3. Place yourself in the basic push-up position with your arms in line with your chest and your legs extended outward.

4. Rest on the balls of your feet while bringing one leg (for this example we'll say left leg) forward to your chest and back to its original position. Keep the right leg tucked during the forward and back movement of the left leg.

5. Check to be sure your bent leg and hands carry the weight of your body and that you hold your head up during the back and forth leg movements.

6. Repeat the motion described in Step 4 rapidly, alternating one leg forward and one leg back. This movement mimics the "climbing of a mountain."

7. Repeat as many times as you can. Remember to inhale and exhale steadily during the entire mountain climber exercise.

Tips & Warnings

• Your head and body should be in alignment while doing the mountain climber exercise.

• Your abdominal muscles should be tightened during the entire exercise.

• Consult with your physician before beginning any exercise program.