Step Fitness Workouts

What Is Step | Benefits | Weight Loss | What To Expect | FAQs

Cardio is crucial for our overall health and fitness, but not everyone likes the idea of traditional cardio workouts like running or cycling. If that sounds like you, step classes could be your new favourite way to get fit.

Combining upbeat music and simple choreography, a step fitness workout is a fun and effective way to improve your cardio fitness. Whether you're new to exercise or want to add variety to your routine, step classes are a low-impact but challenging way to build strength, coordination, and cardiovascular health.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about step fitness workouts, what is a step class to the benefits of doing them.

• Step classes combine cardio, strength, and coordination training
• A step fitness workout improves heart health without high impact
• Step is suitable for beginners and can be made more challenging
• Regular step classes can support fat loss and muscle tone
• Step training helps with joint stability, balance, and leg strength

Step classes have been a gym favourite for decades but if you haven’t been to one, you might be wondering exactly what are step classes like. These are group fitness classes where you step on and off a raised platform in time with music, alongside other simple choreography such as arm movements. Step classes raise your heart rate and strengthen the lower body, making them a fun but challenging cardio workout.

Step class workouts are challenging but suitable for all levels. The height of the step can be adjusted to make the workout more or less challenging, and you can take breaks or slow down as needed.

What is body step class? If you spot BodyStep on your gym timetable, it’s the Les Mills branded version of step that follows similar principles with its own choreography and music releases.

Step classes are a fun way to keep fit, with multiple benefits:

Step workouts raise your heart rate and strengthen your heart, lungs, and circulation, boosting your endurance and helping to protect against chronic diseases like hypertension and coronary heart disease.

Although step classes don’t involve lifting weights, they can be great for leg strength and joint stability because they involve repeated single leg loading as you step up and down. This strengthens the muscles around the hips, knees, and ankles, helping to improve joint health and balance.

Step class involves making controlled, choreographed movements which builds full body coordination and awareness.

Step fitness workouts are low impact and friendly on the joints, making it a great way to get your cardio if you find high impact workouts like running too much.

Aerobic workouts like step workouts release mood boosting hormones called endorphins and boosts your circulation, sending oxygen and nutrients around the body for a natural energy boost. Many people find moving to music more fun than other forms of exercise, giving an even bigger boost to your mood.

Step classes get your entire body moving and can be a great way to burn calories. The exact amount will depend on factors such as your weight and the intensity, but you can expect to burn around 200-500 calories per hour.

Beginners to regular gym goers alike can benefit from step workouts. You can control the intensity by changing your step height, speed, and arm involvement to ensure you get a workout that is challenging, no matter what level you are at.

Taking group fitness classes can be a good way to meet new friends and build a sense of community at the gym. Not only is this a benefit in itself, but it can help to keep you motivated and exercising consistently.

To lose weight, you need to eat less calories than you burn each day (known as a calorie deficit). While the most effective way to create a calorie deficit is through your diet, step classes can help with weight loss as they burn plenty of calories which makes sticking to a deficit easier.   

For best results, follow a moderate calorie deficit with your diet and do 2-3 cardio workouts like step classes and 2-3 strength sessions each week. Learn more about exercising for weight loss here.

If it's your first time, knowing what a step class is like can help ease any nerves. A typical step class includes:

• A warm-up to get your joints and muscles ready
• Choreographed step sequences that build up
• Options to increase or reduce the intensity
• A cool-down at the end

Step instructors should always demonstrate beginner and advanced versions, so you can choose the option that's best for you.

PureGym step classes are usually 20-30 minutes long - great for squeezing into busy schedules!

Ready to try a step fitness workout?

Whether you're looking to boost your cardio fitness, support weight loss, or just enjoy a fun group workout, step classes are a great option that suits a wide range of fitness levels and goals.

Click here to learn more about step classes at PureGym, or find your nearest gym to see your local class timetable.