Why Circuit Training Should Be A Part Of A Balanced Lifestyle
If you’re sick and tired of doing the same old workout routine week in and week out, then circuit training might be a great fitness regime to add into your lifestyle. This is not only because circuit training is constantly changing form and evolving which means it’s always fresh and exciting, but also because it involves cycling through a bunch of different exercises that target different muscle groups, which means your fitness regime is always kept really well-balanced and holistic.
Circuit training is different every time you practice it, but it generally involves a combination of several different exercises, that are all performed during the same workout routine, with very little resting time in between. For example, you might move from squats to push-ups to burpees to sit-ups to battle ropes, which are all exercises that target separate muscle groups, giving you a well-rounded exercise routine which incorporates both strength and cardio.
Many people are constantly asking us how they can fit time to focus on building their strength while simultaneously boosting their cardiovascular endurance – and at Kaya Health Clubs, we believe that circuit training is the answer. This is because circuit training involves alternating which body part you’re targeting. This means that one muscle group is able to rest while the other is working, which is what makes it one of the most effective training styles out there.
It also makes it one of the most well-rounded, balanced approaches to exercise, because it doesn’t just focus on one area of fitness. Total, balanced fitness means having a balance between endurance training and being able to move fast and agile, to muscular strength and how powerful you feel. What’s great about circuit training is that it helps to tick all these boxes in one relatively short session.
Circuit training sometimes involves using the body and natural body weight as a form of weight and resistance training; however it also uses a range of different exercise equipment including treadmills, medicine balls, resistance bands, hand weights, battling ropes, kettlebells, steps and more. The result is a workout that is always fresh and exciting, and taxes your muscular strength, endurance and your cardiorespiratory system, all at once.
At Kaya, we recommend practicing circuit training twice to three times a week. This is because circuit training is a form of exercise which targets all muscle groups, which means rest days are essential regardless of what type of workout plan you’re following. When we exercise, we create tiny tears in our muscles, and taking a rest allows them to rebuild and recover. Taking at least a couple of rest days in between each workout is essential for getting the most you can out of your exercise regime. You can still do some light physical activity on these days, but keep it fairly mild, like stretching, light yoga or walking.
There are many different sports that rely on circuit training to help build cardiovascular and muscular strength, but just to mention a few, there’s football, netball, basketball, tennis, swimming, bike-riding, gymnastics, rowing and soccer, as well as athletic sports that involve physical strength, speed or endurance. Whether you’re an athlete, a cyclist, a racewalker, a runner, a rugby player, a swimmer, a yogi, an acrobat, or a participant in racket sports, the benefits of circuit training are well-balanced and holistic, meaning they will drastically improve your strength and endurance, regardless of what kind of sport you choose to engage in.