Essentially, circuit training is based on the same concept as an electrical circuit — a continuous flow, but instead of a flow of electricity, circuit training uses a flow of exercise. During a circuit training session, you rotate through various exercises and perform them for a certain number of repetitions or a designated time. As you shift between each activity, you take few to no breaks. Circuit training has its share of benefits, but it’s helpful to know a few tips regarding how to get started.
Benefits of Circuit Training
If you’ve never completed circuit training, you’ll be happy to know it has several benefits.
Works the Heart and Skeletal Muscles
Circuit training doesn’t fall into the category of cardio or strength training; it incorporates both. As a result, you increase your muscle mass while giving your heart a good workout.
Is Time-Friendly
Without all the resting and because it’s often a full-body workout, circuit training is time-efficient. With circuit training, even if you’re short on time, you can still receive a high level of results and the benefit of exercise. In fact, you can complete a session in 30 minutes while targeting your major muscle groups.
Burns More Calories
You may be able to burn more calories when you opt for circuit training because you aren’t having periods of rest, allowing you to burn calories during the entire session. In other words, if you previously were doing a standard, 30-minute cardio workout, you can increase the number of calories you burn in that same time frame by switching to circuit training.
Circuit training also includes resistance training, which is known to heighten the number of calories you burn for some time after you end the workout.
Can Be More Fun
Some people lose interest in working out due to boredom, but with this training, you stay busy from the start of your workout until the end. During the sessions, you change from one exercise to another rapidly.
Ultimately, if you find you enjoy circuit training, you’ll be more likely to adhere to a physical activity routine.
How to Incorporate Circuit Training Into Your Workout
If you think circuit training could benefit you, it’s easier than you think to include it in your workout.
Gyms may offer classes, so you don’t have to spend lengthy amounts of time online researching to find the right program.
If you don’t have a trainer, start by picking your favorite cardio and resistance training exercises and doing them in bursts. Usually, about eight to 10 exercises work for one session. Then, switch between the activities, doing each one for a certain number of repetitions or minutes. If you find yourself bored with that routine, change it up, possibly even every time you complete a session.
Ideally, once you get used to circuit training, you’ll want to pick exercises that work both your upper and lower body.
