How To Assess Your Own Fitness

Step 1: Start position

This exercise is to measure cardiovascular endurance. Begin by standing facing the step with your feet shoulder width apart.

Step 2: The movement

Step onto the step with one foot and then the other.

Step down with one foot and then with the other to complete one repetition.

Step 3: Breathing

You need to follow a regular breathing pattern breathing in through your nose out through your mouth.

Step 4: Review

You should perform this assessment for 3 minutes. Use your watch to time yourself and then record how many steps you have managed to do.

Step 1: Start position

Position yourself on your mat with your hands shoulder-width apart and elbows slightly bent. Women should have their knees bent and the bottoms of their thighs resting on the mat whilst men should position themselves on the balls of their feet with the body outstretched.

Step 2: The movement

Bend at the arms and lower the body towards the floor

Push up with the arms to the start position.

Step 3: Breathing

When you lower your body breathe in through your nose.

And then when you push up to the first position, breathe out through your mouth.

Step 4: Review

You should perform this exercise for the maximum amount of times you can manage, and then note down your results.

Step 1: Start position

Lie on the mat with your knees bent and feet together and flat on the floor. Put your hands on top of your thighs and flex your upper body slightly off the floor.

Step 2: The movement

Squeeze your stomach, push your lower back into the floor and raise your hands to touch the top of your thighs.

Then return to the start position to complete one repetition.

Step 3: Breathing

Whilst you lift up breathe out through your mouth.

Then when you lower down to the first position, breathe in through your nose.

Step 4: Review

You should do this for 1 minute then write down how many repetitions you manage to do in this time and you will be able to compare this result with the next assessment that you do. The last two exercises will assess your muscular strength and endurance.