Flutter Kicks

January 23, 2019

Do you love swimming but don’t know how? Do you feel a little bad you can’t seem to reap the benefits of flutter kicks, for instance?

I think you’d find some refuge in the calisthenics version of these “kicks.” Read on to see my point.

Benefits of Flutter Kicks

In calisthenics, flutter kick or leg flutters are core-strengthening exercises that are often done together with bicycle crunches and the superman. In fact, the flutter kick challenges your stability. This purely body-weight exercise hits your:

rectus abdominis (main abs),
obliques (side abs),
hips,
thighs, and
legs.

This means that the flutter kick can help rid the above “problem areas” of extra fat. So, I think it’s a pretty good exercise especially for women who would like to tone their lower body.

One thing I also noticed when performing is that they pump up my heart rate. That says I should probably add it to my list of cardio workouts, too!

How To Do Flutter Kicks

Performing the flutter kick is quite simple. Just prepare your mat and get started as follows.

Lie down with your back flat on the mat.
Place your arms on your sides.
Lift your legs together and keep them in the air. Keep your core tight as you do.
“Kick” upwards with your right leg first (or your left—it doesn’t really matter).
Have your legs take turns in “kicking” up and down—just as you would flutter on water. This motion is basically what flutter kicks are all about.
Do continuous kicking for about 20 to 30 seconds.

Tips

To do your leg flutters correctly, take note of the following tips:

Keep your legs straight as you do your kicking.
Don’t forget to breathe while flutter kicking!
Keep your core tight. You want to build your abs, right?
Remember to keep your back flat!
You can do 2 to 3 sets of this calisthenics and even do a variation.
Check out the featured video below to learn more about modifying your flutter kicks!