Circuit training is a combination of cardiovascular exercise and strength training. A typical circuit training session starts with a warm-up, followed by a number of strength building exercises, followed by a cool down. Each exercise in circuit training is performed at a station. When circuit training you should walk very fast or run from station to station.
With circuit training you can decide how long your workout will last and how many different exercises you intend to include. Because circuit training workouts include so many different exercises they tend to be fun, time seems to fly by, and you will see results quickly.
Your workout stations do not have to be anything fancy. You can easily use a common floor mat or towel as a station for sit-ups, push-ups or crunches. Another station could be a home gym or weight bench. You may also use a pull-up bar secured in a doorway for doing pull-ups. You can even use the stairs in your house for doing step ups, leg squats, and toe raises.
Stations should be arranged 10 to 20 feet apart if possible. You want to leave enough room between stations so that you can run or walk very quickly when it is time to change stations. If you must put your stations closer together then you should perform a cardiovascular exercise for 10 seconds between station changes. It is also a good idea to place a note on each station to remind you what exercise you intend to do. This will help you remember which exercise is next if you have a station where you can perform multiple exercises. You should have stations set up to perform arm strengthening exercises, leg strengthening exercises, and abdomen, butt, and lower back exercises.
Your warm-up period may be done inside or outside. You should run, walk, cycle, swim or any other cardiovascular exercise that you prefer for 5 to 20 minutes. The amount of time that you spend warming up should be determined by your current fitness level and also the amount of time you have for your entire workout.
Once your warm-up period is done you should immediately begin the strength training exercises that you have included in your circuit. It is okay to stop for water but you should not stop to talk friends or answer e-mails. To get the true benefits of circuit training you want to keep moving between stations to keep your cardiovascular system pumping.
You should use a timer at each station to time your workout. You should start with the timer set for 20 seconds and have a goal of building up to 45 seconds at each station. Once the timer has beeped, you should stop the current exercise and quickly walk or run to the next station, reset the timer and begin the next exercise. This process should be repeated at each station until you have finished your circuit.
At this point you should begin your cool down session which should last 10 to 15 minutes. The cool down session should be followed by a short but thorough stretching session to help reduce the risk of injury.
Circuit training two or three times a week is a fast, fun and effective way to lose weight and increase your physical fitness level.