Tiktokers are obsessed with easy ‘washcloth’ burpees that involve NO jumping and burn just as many calories – here’s how to do them
Whether it's at the end of a tough pilates routine or as part of a brutal HIIT class, everyone loves to hate burpees.
This exercise, which consists of a push-up followed by a jump in the air, is a challenging way to start or end any workout.
However, TikTokers have found a way to make the grueling practice more manageable, while still burning calories and working core muscle groups.
Regular burpees are an effective way to burn fat and tone your body.
In the traditional exercise, gym-goers assume a high plank position, do a push-up and then jump into the air from a squatting position.
But TikTok has turned to low-impact burpees instead — and videos showing viewers how to do them have racked up 300 million views on the platform.
Yoga teacher Matt Giordano posted a video in January of himself performing a Pilates burpee with towels under his feet
TikTok user Kate Armstrong showed off her low-impact burpee using sliding discs under her feet to mimic a reformer's move
Matt Giordano, a yoga trainer with 19,000 TikTok followers, posted a video in January of himself performing a simple burpee with towels under his feet to slide them into position — instead of jumping.
Place your feet hip-width apart and place a disk, washcloth, or towel under each foot.
Slip into a squat position and place your hands on the floor in front of your feet. Your hands should also be shoulder-width apart.
From there, slide into a plank position and do a push-up.
Slide your feet back toward your hands so you're sitting low, then stand up straight.
If you don't have objects to slide on the ground, try doing a regular burpee, but walking instead of jumping.
This works the core, arms, legs and glutes like a regular burpee without getting out of breath.
Pilates burpees can also be done on a reformer, a machine that looks like a bed frame and has a platform on wheels that rolls up and down as you move on it
Fitness experts say the move not only burns almost exactly the same calories as regular burpees, but is also gentler on your bones and results in greater muscle tone in the abdomen.
Caley Crawford, vice president of training and experience at Row House in New York City, told DailyMail.com, “These are full-body exercises with no impact on the joints and bones.”
“Additionally, if you do the move without the down and up jump, you tend to do more of a 'strict' pushup, rather than falling directly from chest to deck.” This ensures more muscle connection and growth.'
The movement also involves activating the core to help your body slide without your form faltering.
Both low- and high-impact burpees have been shown to strengthen the muscles in your core, legs, hips, glutes, arms, chest and shoulders. Some research also suggests that it could benefit the mind as well.
A 2022 study in the journal Environmental research and public healthFor example, they found that teens who did an endurance program involving burpees had better short-term memory than those who skipped the exercise.
Trainer and swimsuit model Katie Austin showed off herself on TikTok by performing a low-impact burpee using only an exercise mat
“Low-impact burpees can be good for everyone, especially those who have joint impact limitations or difficulty getting up and down off the ground,” Ms Crawford said.
The move is often used in Reformer Pilates – a type of popular workout that involves balancing the body on a wheeled machine that looks like a bed frame.
Also called the 'pilates burpee', you can use the board on wheels under your feet to push you back and forth.
First set your resistance level low and then gradually increase it as you see fit.
Place your hands on the front panel and your feet on the standing platform so that you are in a plank position.
From that position, lower into a push-up and bend both knees so that the platform moves with you.
Shift your weight to your heels, squat down, and then stand up.
If you don't have a towel, washcloth, or reformer, fitness influencers have shown how to do the easiest version of the exercise possible.
Some have even shown the move without any equipment.
Sports Illustrated personal trainer and swimsuit model Katie Austin shared a TikTok clip with her 730,000 followers in August, demonstrating the move.
In the video, which has been viewed 12,700 times, the text on the screen reads: 'Want an intense cardio move without the hard impact on your body? Try this low-impact burpee.'
The clip shows her doing the burpee move, but instead of jumping into the air, she lands on her feet and places one foot in front of the other.