Circuit training has become a very popular exercise technique. It is a versatile form of training that can be successfully used by anyone from stay-at-home mothers to professional basketball players to teenagers to Olympic athletes.
Circuit training involves performing a variety of exercises for short periods of time. These include endurance movements as well as strength
exercises. “It [circuit training] works well for developing strength, endurance (both aerobic and anaerobic), flexibility and coordination” (Sports Fitness Advisor: Circuit Training Section).
The variety of the movements utilized in circuit training allows for a full body workout and keeps the muscles from getting used to one particular movement. This technique is referred to as “muscle confusion.”
“Muscle confusion workouts operate under the theory that by constantly changing movements, the body will be forced to respond…The goal is to always keep the body guessing so that it does not become accustomed to one specific workout and stop responding,” explained an eHow Contributing Writer (“How to Schedule a Muscle Confusion Workout ,” Justice).
One of the appeals of circuit training is the minimal amount of time it takes to get a total body workout. Certified Personal Trainer, Terri Magrans, said, “by keeping the heart rate up throughout the session, more work is performed in less time resulting in greater caloric expenditure during the workout” (“Understanding the Benefits: Cardiovascular and Strength Circuit Training,” Magrans). “The addition of cardiovascular exercise between strength exercises also increases lean body mass, which results in a higher resting metabolism. This means more calories are burned throughout the day” (Magrans). WebMD offers additional support for these claims in Carol Sorgen’s article, “Take a Shortcut to Fitness With Circuit Training: Get strength and cardio benefits in 30 minutes a day.”
A typical circuit training routine involves about eight to twelve different stations with rest time in between each station. An example of this would be to do sit-ups for 45 seconds, rest for 30 seconds, bench press for 45 seconds, rest for 30 seconds and so on until all of the stations have been completed. Any variety of exercise movements can be incorporated into a circuit. Depending on what is included, different parts of the body will be worked. Sports Coach, Brian Mackenzie, explains how to create a circuit training session on his Web site, Brian Mac Sports Coach.
Many circuit training movements are exercises that can be done at home with the help of simple exercise equipment. Some of the common pieces of equipment include dumbbells, exercise balls, jump ropes, medicine balls and boxes. About.com offers images and explanations about how to use different types of equipment during a circuit training workout.
Circuit training is a wonderful way to stay in shape and is such a versatile type of exercise that it can be beneficial anyone. The key to having success with circuit training is to follow the circuits correctly and make sure that you know how to do the movements with proper form.
The variety of the movements utilized in circuit training allows for a full body workout and keeps the muscles from getting used to one particular movement. This technique is referred to as “muscle confusion.”
“Muscle confusion workouts operate under the theory that by constantly changing movements, the body will be forced to respond…The goal is to always keep the body guessing so that it does not become accustomed to one specific workout and stop responding,” explained an eHow Contributing Writer (“How to Schedule a Muscle Confusion Workout ,” Justice).
One of the appeals of circuit training is the minimal amount of time it takes to get a total body workout. Certified Personal Trainer, Terri Magrans, said, “by keeping the heart rate up throughout the session, more work is performed in less time resulting in greater caloric expenditure during the workout” (“Understanding the Benefits: Cardiovascular and Strength Circuit Training,” Magrans). “The addition of cardiovascular exercise between strength exercises also increases lean body mass, which results in a higher resting metabolism. This means more calories are burned throughout the day” (Magrans). WebMD offers additional support for these claims in Carol Sorgen’s article, “Take a Shortcut to Fitness With Circuit Training: Get strength and cardio benefits in 30 minutes a day.”
A typical circuit training routine involves about eight to twelve different stations with rest time in between each station. An example of this would be to do sit-ups for 45 seconds, rest for 30 seconds, bench press for 45 seconds, rest for 30 seconds and so on until all of the stations have been completed. Any variety of exercise movements can be incorporated into a circuit. Depending on what is included, different parts of the body will be worked. Sports Coach, Brian Mackenzie, explains how to create a circuit training session on his Web site, Brian Mac Sports Coach.
Many circuit training movements are exercises that can be done at home with the help of simple exercise equipment. Some of the common pieces of equipment include dumbbells, exercise balls, jump ropes, medicine balls and boxes. About.com offers images and explanations about how to use different types of equipment during a circuit training workout.
Circuit training is a wonderful way to stay in shape and is such a versatile type of exercise that it can be beneficial anyone. The key to having success with circuit training is to follow the circuits correctly and make sure that you know how to do the movements with proper form.
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