Many of you are bored with traditional cardio methods and are seeking a new alternative. If you have never tried the Prowler for your cardio you are really missing out on a great workout. It gives you the unique ability to vary your load and change how you approach the exercise as a whole. I am going to discuss the benefits of the Prowler as well as give you some example workouts.
Cardio Training With the Prowler
The idea of cardio training is to raise your heart rate to increase the fat burning potential of your body. It is also aimed at conditioning you for whatever activities you participate in. Most people get their cardio training via running, biking or rowing. While these are awesome ways to get your cardio done, there are alternatives that can help you really change up your cardio routines. This, to me, is where the Prowler comes in!
The Prowler enables you to load up weight plates on it so you can vary the amount of resistance you are dealing with. A lighter weight gives you less of a cardio workout than a heavier weight. The good Prowlers (like the one pictured above) have the ability for you to push from the side where the weights are or from a lower point. Varying between those will give you a different kind of workout. This, in turn, gives you more flexibility in your cardio training and that’s a good thing.
The Prowler can be a real beast to attack. It depends upon how much weight you load up and how rough the surface is that you are using it on. Even just walking with the Prowler can be a major struggle!
Training Ideas With the Prowler
I generally do my cardio training at the end of my weight training session because it saves me from having to return to the gym to get my cardio done later. With that said, here are several ways to integrate the Prowler into your cardio training.
- Running Prowler Push. Load up the Prowler with weight you can handle and then run 50 feet, turn the Prowler and run back 50 feet. Without resting, do this for 5 sets (a total of 500 feet). Rest for a minute and repeat this activity for 20 minutes.
- Prowler Push/Air Squats. Load up the Prowler with a lighter weight. Push the Prowler for 50 feet using large steps (much like a walking lunge), turn the Prowler around and continue in the same manner for 50 feet. Upon returning to your starting point, turn the Prowler around, step back and do 20 air squats (bodyweight squats). Repeat this process for 20 minutes.
- Prowler Ladders. Load up the Prowler with a moderate amount of weight. Make sure that the vertical bars where the weight goes are right in front of you. Push the Prowler for 10 feet. Now switch directions by going to the other side of the Prowler and pushing it from the low bars back the 10 feet. Now reverse direction again by pushing the Prowler from the vertical bars, this time going 20 feet. Reverse direction one more time by going to the other side of the Prowler and pushing it from the low bars back the 20 feet. Repeat this cycle until you reach 50 feet each way. Take a 1 minute rest and then repeat the process 5 times. You WILL feel this!
As you can see from the above 3 examples, the number of variables you can change when using the Prowler is high. You are limited only by your own creativity. If you have not included the Prowler in your existing cardio regimen, then now is the time to consider it. If you have, please leave a comment and let us know your favorite Prowler workout.
