Circuit
training uses either a series of exercise stations or other
forms of exercise not involving equipment on a circuit, which
you have to complete within a given period of time .
The exercises usually involve different factors of physical fitness
- muscular and cardiovascular endurance, speed, strength and co-ordination.
For example, one full circuit may have 15 different exercises
and you spend exactly two minutes on each before progressing to
the next. Some exercises could include continuous step-ups onto
a bench, press-ups, sit-ups, sets of sprints between markers,
star jumps, jogging, leg lifts, or triceps dips. This would provide
30 minutes of high-intensity activity.
A good instructor will motivate you to run between stations and
work hard at all times so that a high heart rate is maintained
throughout the session.
The benefits of circuit training
Improving your cardiovascular endurance is fundamental to the
aims of circuit training. This is achieved when the sets of exercises
are performed with carefully controlled rest periods and spurts
of activity so that your heart rate doesn't drop so low that you're
no longer stressing your oxygen transport system.
An improvement to speed and general strength can also be expected
since activities such as sprints and sit-ups are often included.
Circuit training also gives you the opportunity to devote a little
time to less obvious facets of your overall fitness. Stomach muscles,
for example, might not receive any attention at all if it wasn't
for the particular station that requires three sets of 15 sit-ups
each time you complete a circuit!
|
