Cardio

Climb Higher: Stair Training That Transforms

Quick Answer: Stair climbing is a high-intensity cardio exercise that burns more calories than most activities while building powerful legs and glutes. It can be done on stairs or a stair climbing machine.

Difficulty
Intermediate
Calories/Min
9-15
Equipment
Stairs or stair machine
Muscles
Quadriceps, Glutes

Stair Climbing Technique: Build Leg Power

1

To begin, step onto the stairmaster and select the desired option from the menu. You can choose a manual setting, or you can select a program to run. Typically, you can enter your age and weight to estimate the amount of calories burned during exercise.

2

Pump your legs up and down in an established rhythm, driving the pedals down but not all the way to the floor. It is recommended that you maintain your grip on the handles so that you don't fall. The handles can be used to monitor your heart rate to help you stay at an appropriate intensity.

3

Stairmasters offer convenience, cardiovascular benefits, and usually have less impact than running outside. They are typically much harder than other cardio equipment.

Exercise Form

Stair Climbing form - step 1
1

Benefits of Stair Climbing

  • ✓Burns more calories than most cardio
  • ✓Builds powerful leg muscles
  • ✓Improves cardiovascular fitness quickly
  • ✓Strengthens bones
  • ✓Functional movement for daily life

Pro Tips

  • 💡Start slow and build endurance
  • 💡Take full steps for maximum muscle engagement
  • 💡Track your floors climbed with Move
  • 💡Mix speed and resistance intervals

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗Leaning heavily on handrails
✗Taking shallow steps
✗Hunching forward
✗Going too fast before warming up

Stair Climbing Variations

Stair machine
Stadium stairs
Building stairwell
Skip steps for intensity

Track Your Stair Climbing with Move

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