7 "Hard Stop" Exercises PS Editors Simply Refuse to Do

Get the Full StoryAs a former ballerina-in-training, I know breaking the rules can be tough. To this day, I have to fight the urge to win over every fitness instructor - my former ballet master's harsh critiques still ringing in my ears. But after developing a chronic illness, I learned that boundaries are not only important to implement into my fitness routine, but also incredibly freeing. Coming up with a few "hard stop" exercises helped immensely.

Hard stop exercises are the movements you hate so much, they just aren't worth doing. In a February TikTok, creator Angelina Nicolle asked her followers about the exercises they "simply refuse to do" - and the answers were enlightening. "Lunges. Hate them. Will only do squats," one commenter responded. "Single leg glute bridge sends me into a blind rage," another said.

We all approach our workouts with different goals in mind. One person might be looking to challenge themselves, pushing the boundaries of their current capabilities. Others might be building stamina, improving mobility, or just trying to maintain their existing routine. For some, fitness might even be more about mental health than physical progress. No matter the case, you know your body best, and frankly, we all have those hard stop exercises that simply aren't worth it.

If you find yourself dreading certain exercises, we encourage you to join the hard stop exercise movement. Be it breaks, modifications, or sitting an exercise out, it's worth doing if it helps you stay consistent. We're not saying you need to be smiling throughout every second of your next sweat session, but if you hate side planks that much, this is your sign to just go ahead and skip them.

For additional hard stop inspiration, we rounded up the seven exercises our own PS editors simply refuse to do. Read on to learn about our least favorite movements, and remind yourself that it's OK to draw the line in the sand every once in a while.

Our "Hard Stop" Exercises

If you're asking us to do these exercises, the answer is no. Here are some of the movements our editors would really rather not do:

Jumping Lunges: With votes from three different PS editors, jumping lunges are our biggest collective hard stop. They're tough to do with proper form, they hurt our knees, and honestly? We're just over them.

Jump Squats: Maybe we don't like jumping, period. This one comes courtesy of yours truly. When given the opportunity to choose between jump squats or standing squats, I stay happily rooted to the ground. I promise you my heart rate is already high enough.

Happy Baby yoga pose : Another hard stop for me, but this one depends on the setting. If I'm taking an at-home yoga class, I relish the opportunity to open up my hips, rolling around in a last-ditch effort to crack my lower back. But in public? Something about it feels a little too vulnerable. If you need me, I'll be heading straight into Savasana.

Planks: They're touted as an essential ab exercise, but that doesn't mean we have to like them. They're a soft stop for PS health and fitness writer Danielle Zickl, with senior beauty editor Jessica Harrington agreeing that plank hip dips are especially tedious.

Box Jumps: Here's an exercise that's fun in theory, but horrifying in actuality. PS newsletter curator Joanna Brenner considers box jumps dangerous and ultimately unnecessary. They seem to beg the question: were there truly no better options?

Mountain Climbers: A hard stop I hadn't considered but strongly agree with comes courtesy of Alexis Jones, PS's senior health and fitness editor. Whoever thought to make an already difficult ab movement even more involved needs to go ahead and fess up.

Burpees: Rounding out our list of hard stop exercises is burpees, with votes from two different PS editors. "Such a gross name I don't even wanna hear the word uttered," says associate balance editor Emma Glassman-Hughes. Hear, hear.

Chandler Plante she her is an assistant health and fitness editor for PS. She has over four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group.

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