Johnson Fitness and Wellness

4 Fun Elliptical Workouts to Give Your Joints a Break

The elliptical machine is one of my favorite modes for both my personal training and as well as my training clients. It’s like the little black dress – it goes with everything and it’s multi-functional. I’ve been using my Horizon Elite Elliptical this summer to train to climb Mt. Rainier. I use the Peak Interval program to build strength in my legs and cardiovascular fitness to prepare for the long hard pushes as we near the summit. I’ve also used it as an effective recovery tool on rainy days to make sure I train truly easy by following my heart rate and perceived effort. It’s a great way to recover actively with no impact on my body. I prescribe elliptical workouts in my running clients training programs for a variety of purposes. For someone who is injury prone, I use it to promote strength with the resistance and climbing motion and stamina with the interval program. It works to build high levels of fitness without the risk of injury as it is low impact, yet weight bearing and simulate the running stride with the added benefit of arm resistance too. For runners that are healthy and can push it on their runs, I weave in elliptical training as active recovery to aid in improving circulation, flushing the waste from their muscles and improve recovery actively. A typical workout would include low levels of resistance and climbing for 30 minutes, followed by flexibility work like foam rolling and stretching. It’s a useful way to bridge the gap between hard running workouts and aid in efficient recovery. Using the elliptical anytime of the year is a great way to build or maintain fitness, reduce the impact on your body, improve strength and stamina, and recover effectively. Here are four of my favorite elliptical workouts:

The Newbie Workout

A welcoming workout for those that are new to elliptical training Total Time: 25-30 minutes

The Fat Burner

A high intensity interval workout that will boost your metabolism for hours post workout and burn fat! Total Time: 36 minutes

The Recovery Workout

An easy go lucky workout that will feel free and easy Total Time: 30 minutes

The Mountain Climber

A challenging workout to build mental and physical strength and stamina Total Time: 36-48 minutes Whether you’re looking to train harder with less impact on the body, or get into shape, the elliptical machine is an effective and fun way to reach your goals.
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Coach Jenny Hadfield is a published author, writer, coach, public speaker and endurance athlete. To find out more, visit our Meet Our Writers page or visit Coach Jenny’s website.
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