Good Plyometrics for a Leg Workout With P90X

P90X is advertised as a complete, 90-day, home-fitness system that is designed to get you in the best shape of your life. It claims to be revolutionary and includes a variety of exercise modalities, such as strength training, plyometrics, yoga and aerobic exercise. It even comes with a nutritional plan. To many, P90X is challenging enough on its own. However, you may want to add in some extra plyometrics or strength training to increase the challenge and intensity of your workouts.

  1. Leaps and Bounds

    • Plyometric exercises for the legs increase your speed, agility and athletic performance. They boost the explosive force and power of your muscles and teach you how to control the impact that landing has on your joints and muscles. Plyometrics have been used for decades by Olympic athletes and have now become popular with amateur athletes as well as fitness enthusiasts. You can easily add plyometric leg exercises into your P90X leg workout. Either stop the tape and add the exercises in to the P90X leg routine or do them before or after the workout. Either way, extra plyometrics can enhance your program.

    Get Vertical

    • Your P90X leg workout includes a lot of strength-training lunges, so box jumps could be a nice change for your muscles. The box jump targets your hamstrings, glutes and quadriceps and helps to improve their power. Your core muscles act as stabilizers. Stand in front of a secured box or platform. Place your right foot on the edge of your box with the toes of both feet facing forward. Jump up as high as possible, switch legs and land with your left foot on the edge of the platform. Repeat the jump immediately and continue to alternate legs until your leg muscles feel fatigued.

    Side to Side

    • There are very few, if any, plyometrics with lateral movement on the P90X leg DVD. This makes barrier lateral jumps an excellent variation to add to your workout. Place a box or platform in the middle of the room and stand to the side of it. Jump up sideways over the barrier to the other side. Land softly and with control and then immediately jump back. Continue to alternate side-to-side jumps until your muscles feel fatigued. Variety is said to be a key component to getting maximum results, so you may want to change your exercises every month or two.

    One Step at a Time

    • Check with your doctor before adding plyometrics to your workout routine. If your fitness level is low or if you have orthopedic issues, it may be best to avoid plyometrics altogether. Once you have the go-ahead, start slowly. Jump from the ground onto soft, padded surfaces that are low to the ground. Start with simple plyometric exercises that only involve one jump until your power, agility and strength improves. The quality of your movements is more important than the quantity of your jumps, so do these exercises with control and make your form a priority.