Tony Horton Says This Is "the Most Important" Workout of the P90X Routine

Get the Full StoryWhen the first P90X workouts were released in 2003, at-home fitness was changed forever. We were so used to awkward cardio and mundane and usually ineffective aerobics, until Beachbody Super Trainer Tony Horton came along and showed the world that you can create a gym in your living room - and get totally ripped from it.

POPSUGAR spoke to Tony about his P90X programming, and even if you've never done the workouts before, his advice will be useful to you. Having worked with countless clients in the past both everyday people and celebrities and created many different, effective fitness programs, Tony knows a thing or two about how to help people lose weight and feel their very best.

"So many people are frustrated because they're doing the wrong stuff too much," he told us. "Variety, variety, variety is the spice of exercise, just like it is of life, because you're trying to avoid boredom and injuries, and the plateau effect prevents you from seeing results after a month or two."

RelatedThe Best Piece of Fitness Advice P90X Trainer Tony Horton Gave Me

You can't get a toned, fit figure if you're only cycling or doing traditional cardio. You have to mix it up and do strength training and resistance work as well, because that's going to give you the shape you're going for. However, don't get Tony wrong - doing only strength training and cardio isn't the ticket to health and wellness either. Mobility and flexibility are the most important pillars of fitness, and without them, you won't get your ideal body.

"Yoga is the most important part of P90X, P90X2, and P90X3," he said matter-of-factly. "A lot of people ignore it because it's boring and because you're not breaking a sweat and it's hard at first. But that which challenges you is the best thing for you."

If your body isn't flexible and supple, you won't be able to move around as easily and get farther in your strength training workouts. That means you won't be able to accomplish as much or get as strong and fit as you'd like. "Without yoga, I probably would have gotten injured a dozen times," Tony shared. "It's about reaction time, it's about all the aspects of fitness that help improve you in all kinds of ways - and mobility is the glue to all of it."

RelatedThese Stretches Are Going to Give You the Most Flexible Hamstrings in the Room

"It's easy to get on a stationary bike, it's easy to get on a treadmill, it's easy to get on an elliptical," he continued. But just because it's easy doesn't mean it's the right path. Challenge yourself and incorporate more yoga and mobility work into your routine, and it won't take long for you to see a significant improvement in your fitness - and in the rest of your life, too, come to think of it.

Share: