Cardio Blast Workout - Challenge Yourself!

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Cardio Blast

This cardio blast workout is about 25 minutes long and involves advanced, high impact exercises designed to get your heart rate up very high. Proceed with caution!
Beginners: This is an advanced workout, though you can substitute lighter moves (marching in place, walking a flight of stairs, etc.). You can also modify the suggested time for each move or start with this workout
Intermediate/Advanced: Perform each exercise 1 after the other, resting when you need to.
Modify according to your fitness level...the time given for each move is just a suggestion--go longer or shorter if you need to.
Sip water throughout the workout. When you get tired, walk in place (don't stop moving)
Monitor your intensity! RPE should be between 6-9.

*Warm up* Warm up for 2 or more minutes with light cardio, such as step touches (as shown). Really use your arms to get your heart rate going.
*Side Lunge with Windmill Arms* Stand with legs wide, arms straight out to the sides and parallel to the floor. Bend the right knee into a side lunge and bring the left arm down towards the foot. Repeat on the other side, lunging from side to side and bringing opposite arm towards foot. The faster you go and the lower you lunge, the harder it is. Repeat for 1 minute.
Jogs Jog in place while pushing your arms overhead. Try to kick high, as if you're kicking your own butt and really use the arms to raise the heart rate. You can also jog around the house or around the block. Repeat for 1 minute.
High Jogs As you jog, bring your knees up high, to waist level if you can. Try not to lean back too far. Repeat for 1 minute.
Speed Skaters Jump from side to side, landing on one leg and swinging the arms with each jump. This is a lateral move, so keep your body low to the ground, knees bent and don't jump up too high. Repeat for 1 minute.
Heel Digs Start with feet together. Jump up and land on right leg with the left heel straight out in front of you on the floor. Jump up and switch legs, bringing the right heel in front of you. Keep the body low to the ground--the higher you jump, the harder it is. Repeat for 1 minute.
*Jumping Jacks* Do jumping jacks for 1 minute.
*PlyoJacks* Begin with feet together and jump up, taking feet out to the side, landing in a low squat. Jump up and bring feet back together (a very slow jumping jack). Swing your arms overhead to add intensity. Do this move for 30 seconds, rest for a few seconds, and repeat for another 30 seconds. This is a tough one!
*Ice Breakers* Begin with feet wide. Jump up and land in a wide squat while swinging your right arm around, over your head and down in a chopping motion. Repeat the jump, chopping with your left arm. Repeat for 1 minute.
Jogs Jog or march in place while pushing your arms overhead. Try to kick high, as if you're kicking your own butt and really use the arms to raise the heart rate. You can also jog around the house or around the block. Repeat for 1 minute.
*Squat-Thrust* Stand with feet together. Squat down and place your hands on the floor next to your feet. In an explosive movement, jump feet backwards into a push-up position, jump feet back between hands and stand up. Perform 6 reps, march in place for 8 counts for brief recovery, repeat 6 more times. This is a tough one!
Cross-Country Ski Begin with feet together. Jump up bringing the right foot forward, left foot back. Quickly switch feet while alternating the arms with the legs (left arm comes up when right foot goes back). Repeat for 1 minute.
*March in Place* Aren't you tired? Take a minute, catch your breath
*Jump Kicks* Stand with feet together. Raise the right knee to waist level and then jump, switching legs and kicking out with the left leg (in a knee-up-kick pattern). Repeat for 30 seconds and then switch, bringing the left knee up and kicking out with the right leg, repeating on this side for 30 seconds.
Plyo-Lunge Begin in a lunge position, right foot forward, left foot back, both knees at 90 degree angles. Jump up and switch feet in the air, landing in a lunge with left foot forward, right foot back. Repeat for 30 seconds, rest and do it for 30 seconds more. This is a tough one!
*Side Kicks* Stand with feet together. Transfer your weight to the right leg, making sure your foot is out at an angle to protect your knee. Bring the left knee up and in towards the body as you look to the left, leaning the torso to the right. Extend the left leg out in a kick without locking the knee. Lower back down and repeat on the other side, alternating sides for 1 minute. If you've never tried kickboxing moves before, skip this one.
*Front Kick with Squat* Stand with feet together. Bring the right knee up and extend the leg in a front kick (don't lock the knee!). Lower down into a low squat (knees behind toes) and then kick with the left leg. Repeat (right kick, squat, left kick) for 1 minute.
*Lunge with Chop* Step forward with right foot into a low lunge (front knee behind toe, both knees to 90 degree angles) while simultaneously bringing left arm down towards the floor in a chopping motion. Step back and repeat for 30 seconds. Switch to the other side and repeat for another 30 seconds. This is a tough one!
*March or Jog in Place, 1 minute*
*Power Jumps* This is your last exercise! Begin with feet together. Bend the knees and jump as high as you can while circling your arms overhead. Land with soft knees in a squat and repeat for 1 minute.
*Cool down with some light walking and stretching*