Running is a great way to work out, but the repetitive motion doesn't always do a body good. The constant forward motion can cause tight hips, overuse injuries, and other conditions. This is one reason why Barry's Bootcamp trainer Shauna Harrison loves to incorporate treadmill side shuffles into her workouts (like this one). That's right — basically, you're running sideways while on the treadmill. Your neighbors may give you weird looks while you practice this move at the gym, but it's worth it. "Switching up the movement patterns helps strengthen the under- or less-used muscles, which can enhance performance," Shauna says. "It's great for working the inner and outer thighs and the glutes and it's great for hip strength as well as flexibility. If you run frequently, these are the muscles that may be weak or less mobile." Working these underused muscles can not only help you avoid injury and lift and tone your lower body but also help with reaction time when you're running outdoors and have to hop over a branch in your way.
Ready to try the shuffle for yourself? Here's how to do it.
If you're a runner who doesn't do lateral moves like this regularly, the shuffle will feel slightly unnatural to your body, so remember to take it slow. "You can gradually take the speed and incline up as you get more used to the movement, but there's no rush to do this fast," Shauna advises. Incorporate a couple minutes of treadmill shuffling into your normal workouts, and you'll be a pro in no time.