“I want to get in better shape, but I just don’t have time to exercise!”
If you’ve been a fitness trainer for more than about 15 seconds, you’ve probably heard this excuse from at least a dozen different people already.
It’s probably the most common rationalization folks use to justify their lack of regular exercise, and it may very well be the lamest.
The truth is, you can get a challenging and effective workout in just 10 minutes, and anyone who says they don’t have 10 minutes is just kidding themselves.
What I’m about to share with you is so quick and simple, many people may question its effectiveness. If you are one of those people, all you’ll need to verify the power of this workout is to try it for yourself.
Here’s the challenge:
Begin by setting up your feet in a comfortable squat position. The toes may be turned outward slightly or your feet may be placed parallel. Set a timer for 10 minutes and start the clock.
Your objective is to perform as many slow, controlled squats as possible, while using a full range of motion. Aim to make each rep last for three full seconds. You may take as many breaks as you like, but your feet must remain flat on the ground where they began for the entire time.
After about 30-60 seconds, your legs will likely begin to experience a burning sensation. Keep going: this workout will be a mental challenge as much as a physical one. Only take a break when you absolutely have to, and even then try to keep it to 10 seconds or less. As you go on, the amount of breaks you need and the duration of each break may start to increase. This is fine.
The first time you attempt this challenge, aim for 100 squats. That’s an average of 10 per minute. If you are sticking to the 3 second per rep rule, that’s 30 seconds of work and 30 seconds of rest every minute for ten minutes. Not too bad, right?
By the same token, the highest number of squats you could complete in ten minutes at a 3-second pace is 200 reps. Though very few will accomplish the full 200 on their first attempt, I encourage you to do this workout once or twice a week until you can make it without stopping. A good method is to add 10-20 reps each time. I guarantee that if you eventually build to the full 200, your legs will be stronger, and your ankles, hips and knees will feel great, too.
When you’re ready, the 10 minute squat challenge can eventually become your warm-up before practicing pistol squats and other one legged squat variants.
Here are a few more things to keep in mind:
– An ideal squat starts with a tall chest, neutral spine, and flat feet. As you initiate your squat, your hips will move back while your knees slide forward slightly, allowing your ankles to flex. Your heels need to remain on the ground throughout the movement. Keep your chest upright and your back straight during every rep. You may be surprised by how much you’ll need to engage your abs and back to maintain your posture.
– In order for a rep to count, you must descend until the tops of your thighs are at least parallel to the ground. The range of motion at the top of the squat is also crucial. Do not shortchange yourself by failing to fully extend your hips and knees. I can’t stress enough how important it is to go all the way down and all the way up.
– Arm position is up to the individual, but most people find that reaching their arms forward on the way down helps facilitate proper form.
– Don’t rush. The goal is to perform every rep with precision and control.
This workout will likely leave you sore for at least a day or two the first time you try it, and possibly a lot longer than that if it’s been awhile since your last leg session. This is good. Work your upper body in the meantime (maybe a ten minute push-up workout the next day?), then do your squats again once you’ve recovered.
Also, if you’ve got time to stretch after you’re finished, a standard toe touch and/or quad stretch on each side would probably feel nice, but I totally understand if you’re too busy. Ten minutes is all I initially asked for; I didn’t mean to get greedy.
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Al Kavadlo is the lead instructor for Dragon Door’s Progressive Calisthenics Certification. Recognized worldwide for his amazing bodyweight feats of strength as well as his unique coaching style, Al is the author of five books, including Raising The Bar: The Definitive Guide to Pull-up Bar Calisthenics and Pushing The Limits! Total Body Strength With No Equipment. Read more about Al on his website:www.AlKavadlo.com.
