Ask Ollie
Ollie's Card Deck Workout
Here's one to try together!
Flip a card, do the move, and see how far your crew gets through the deck before the ten-minute timer ends!
Reviewed by our team.
Safety first
- strenuous exercise may cause overexertion or muscle strain
- jumping moves need clear floor space to avoid trips and falls
- wall push-ups require a sturdy wall and non-slip footing
What you need
- Deck of cards, 1 full deck
- Phone, 1 for a ten-minute timer (optional)
- Water, 1 cup per person (optional)
- Paper, 1 sheet (optional)
- Pencil, 1 (optional)
How to do it
Grown-up prep: Clear a roomy patch of floor with no toys or rugs that slide, and pick a sturdy wall for push-ups. Make sure everyone has shoes with grip or non-slip footing. Have water nearby and set a ten-minute timer on a phone or clock.
- Pick one exercise for each suit.
- Warm up with a few easy stretches.
- Start the ten-minute timer and flip the top card. Ask: What suit did you get, and what number is it?
- Do that suit's move as many times as the card says.
- Remember: jack, queen, and king all count as ten! Ask: If you flip a king and then a 7, how many moves is that in all?
- Keep flipping, moving, and swapping turns through the deck.
- When the ten minutes are up, count the cards you flipped.
- Invite someone new to play, then try to beat your score! Ask: Who will you invite to join the next round?
Play it again
- Swap the moves: pick brand new exercises for each suit and see which ones feel the best.
- Team relay: split into two teams and take turns flipping and doing the moves, passing the cards along.
- Beat the clock: try to get through the whole deck, then see how fast you can do it next time.
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