P90X2 is all about working on the core muscles, and improving stability through exercises on unstable platforms. Functional fitness, as they call it. I guess we’re starting with the basics, as the title X2 Core implies, but also starting with a bang. During all my rounds of P90X, there were certain exercises where I felt less confident, where it seemed that if I skipped “that one” and focused on the others, it would be OK. Who would know, right? Well, apparently someone was watching.
It was obvious with the first exercise, called the Sphinx Plank Crunch. P90X fans will recognize the Sphinx push up, in which you start on your forearms, lift your elbows and arms off the ground, and go back down. I was never very good at those. After a while, I skipped them entirely, or substituted a “one arm up, then the other, then down, down” variation. So this is how it begins… SPOILER ALERT: I have gone through all the Phase 1 workouts, and there are several exercises involving the Sphinx. As a matter of fact, there is another in this workout: The Ryan Sphinx Twist Crunch.
Another pet peeve of mine from P90X was the Warrior 3 position in the yoga workout. As a matter of fact, I got tired of trying that whole section (beginning with Warrior 3 through to the balance postures). I could never keep my leg straight and level, balance was not my friend, etc. So of course, exercise 2 of this workout is the Warrior 3 Cross Crunch. Ugh! Again, there are several exercises throughout the Phase 1 workouts based on this position. Definitely an “unstable platform” for me!
The other exercises in this workout include familiar ones like the boat (yoga and core), pushups using an optional medicine ball, the Dreya Roll (also with a medicine ball), and a few more, as well as new-to-P90X moves like the burpee (stand up, get down flat on the floor, perform a push up or some other move as specified, get back up). You can see the progression from P90X to P90X2, but it’s definitely a whole new game. Is this how the Power 90 graduates feel when they start P90X?
What is strikingly different with the new P90X2 phases is the workout schedule. As I mentioned at the beginning, core strength is developed throughout the program, so the Ab Ripper workout (new and improved, of course) is only done once a week. Not today, thank goodness! Also, recovery days are scheduled on day 3 and day 7. They explain the importance of recovery in the P90X2 Fitness Guide, of course. I am still working my way up to the level of difficulty that will require serious recovery. I feel sore, of course, but I will be ready for Plyocide tomorrow!
Have you started P90X2 yet? Do you have any experiences, tips or tricks to share about some of the more well-known exercises (like the burpee)?
P90X2 Tip of the Day: Embrace the changes in P90X2 compared to P90X. Yes, it’s different. It will also help you to improve in a different way than P90X did.
