Aaptiv’s stair climber workouts are here!

Yes, the stair climber might be a relic of the gym world, but it’s a classic for a reason: straightforward and effective, stair climbers provide one of the best low-impact workouts around. Just 30 minutes on the stairs can burn calories, improve overall cardio endurance, and give your lower body a major toning boost. They may not be fancy, but they werk.

Here’s what you need to know:

The exercises you’ll perform on a stair climber are simple and familiar, making them the perfect cardio machines for beginners. If you’re a gym newbie, start here!

Because the stair climber is low-impact, it’s ideal if you’re recovering from any kind of lower-body injury (no knee-pounding treadmill action!).

Hands off those handles! Leaning into the handles for support leads to poor form and wasted energy, and doesn’t give you the bonus you’ll get from standing straight: a killer core workout. Your midsection needs to work double-time to provide lift and support while climbing, so you’re basically getting an ab workout for free — as long as you’re giving your form the attention it deserves!

Unlike other cardio exercises, the focus here is really on your glutes: you hit all three of the muscle groups in your butt and hips in the upward motion of the stairs. You’ll want to give those muscles extra love with a warm up and cool down that focuses on lengthening your quads and hamstrings.

It’s not all about the climb: regular stair-stepping motion only works some of your lower body muscles. That’s why Aaptiv’s classes get you working sideways and backwards, skipping steps and incorporating leg lifts — all the dynamic moves you need to activate all the small, hidden muscles in your legs and butt for some insane lift and tone.

Ready to head on up? Try a class in the Aaptiv app today.