What is circuit training and what are the benefits of it?

Monday, September 14, 2009

Circuit training is a style of training meant to target fat loss, muscle definition, and strengthen the heart and lungs by doing a combination of high intensity aerobics training and resistance training. There are many different ways circuit training can be performed. Circuit training usually consists of anywhere from 7-12 different exercises meant to be a full body work out, with minimal rest in between sets and exercises. Usually the only resting time that you get is the amount of time it takes you to go from one exercise to another. Exercises can consist of machines, hydraulics, free weights, bands, calisthenics, or you can combine them all together.

You can perform your exercises based on reps or time. If it is reps then you ideally want to keep the reps high shooting for no less than 20 reps per station and ideally between 25-30 reps. If it is time then you would want to shoot for anywhere from 1-2 minutes per exercise then immediately go to the next exercise. You should not stop between sets to rest; instead you want to stay constant and the intensity high.

One of the conveniences about circuit training is that you can perform it anywhere. You can easily do it in a gym, at home, at a park, or even at the beach. You can design it so that all of your exercises are laid out in a circle for better convenience or you can jump around from exercise to exercise however it is laid out in either the gym, home, or park setting.

It should be noted that circuit training is well designed for aerobic endurance, fat loss, and muscle definition but if you are looking to bulk up and put on more muscle and get stronger then this is the wrong style to perform. This is geared for more fitness and health than it is for bodybuilding.

Circuit training is also a very good form of exercise to perform if you are limited on time. You can get a full body work out in and do it in the least amount of time. Perfect for the person on their lunch break who can only get about 30-40 minutes in and still have time to wash up and even get a light lunch in afterwards.