Earlier this year we took to hot stepping Rio de Janeiro's, 'Escadaria Selarón'.
Its creator, Jorge Selarón, the Chilean-born artist, covered the set of stairs in fragments of mainly blue, green and yellow tile matching the colours of the Brazilian flag.
It's doubtful that back in 1990 when he started the project he envisaged his tribute to his adopted country would become so iconic. It's probably more likely that he envisaged the holidaying writers of a blog, called GETfizzYcaL, making it's 215 steps an essential part of their leg day.
Because you are fighting more gravity than you would from running or walking on flat, stair walking and sprinting provide the following benefits:
Muscle Tone & Strength - The calves, the quads, the hamstrings and the glutes, that's all the muscles of the leg get a bloody good workout.
Full Body Workout - Although the bulk of the effort is shared by the legs, the pumping of the arms and shoulders help propel you upwards and forwards.
Fat Dynamite - Need we explain? Try climbing at least 100 steps a day and see what happens.
Cardiovascular Fitness - It's a great way to strengthen the heart and lungs. You'll find that after doing a few flights of stairs your chest will be beating like a drum (don't overdo it though).
Abbreviated Workout - Some brainy scientists have established that it provides fat burning and cardiovascular benefits three times faster than walking or running on flat ground.
Safer For Knees - Compared to running or walking on a flat surface, stairs are low impact. And as long as good technique is maintained, and there are no pre-existing issues it can be a much better alternative.
Bang For Your Buck - It's cheap as chips! Works your lower and upper body. Torches fat. Provides cardiovascular benefits. Saves time. Better for the knees. That's six for the price of one, or your unhealthy life back.
Challenge Yourself: lunge, hop, take two steps at a time, walk side ways, if your brave walk backwards or use weights (try piggybacking someone).
