Mountain Climber
Core, shoulders and hip flexorsBodyweight
The mountain climber is a bodyweight move in a plank position where you drive your knees toward your chest in turn. It raises your heart rate and trains core and shoulder stability.
How to do the Mountain Climber
- Start in a straight-arm plank with your hands under your shoulders.
- Keep your hips level and your back flat.
- Drive one knee toward your chest, then switch legs quickly.
- Breathe steadily and keep your shoulders over your hands.
Common mistakes
- Your hips pike up. Squeeze your glutes and keep your body in one line.
- Your hands are too far forward. Place them directly under your shoulders.
- You slow down and let your back sag. Take a short pause, reset the plank, then continue.
With a bench or without
With a bench: put your hands on the bench for an easier, incline version.
Without a bench: do it on the floor, as above.
Easier and harder versions
Easier: Put your hands on a bench or stair, or step the legs in one at a time.
Harder: Cross each knee toward the opposite elbow or move faster.