Homemade Step Exercises

Many people don't have space for exercise equipment, or don't want to spend money to buy specialized items. Nonetheless, nearly all homes and apartments have steps or an object suitable for stepping exercises. Stepping is a great aerobic workout that builds and tones leg muscles while also providing a cardiovascular workout. By finding stepping objects of different heights, you can change the overall impact the exercise offers--the higher the step the greater the intensity.

  1. Staircase - Beginners' Step

    • Face your staircase. The simplest homemade step exercise begins with putting your right foot up on the first stair. Bring up your left foot next to the right. Put your right foot down again, heel first and then follow with the left foot. Repeat this for 15 minutes. Increasing your cadence will increase the cardiovascular impact of this exercise.

    Milk Crate with Weights

    • Put a heavy milk crate on a rug where it won't shift. Wear wrist weights to increase the impact of this exercise. Step up with your right foot. Bend your left knee and lift it above your hip before stepping down. Repeat this alternating with your right knee. Start out slowly, doing five repetitions and see how you feel. Do not try this step exercise if you have knee problems.

    Jump Step

    • Gather two wooden crates, one six inches high and one eight inches high. Stand in front of the smaller crate and jump up on it with both feet. Jump down. Repeat this as quickly as possible five times, taking care to maintain your balance. Repeat on the eight-inch crate.

    Step "Jogging"

    • Find a sturdy surface that's about four inches off ground level. Put your left foot on top of the surface. Begin bringing up your right foot, and bringing down your left foot simultaneously like you would if you were running or jogging in place. Repeat this alternation as quickly as possible for 5 minutes. Increase your time as you build endurance.