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HIIT or high-intensity interval training has become a popular training method. But what is it exactly?
High intensity refers to moving your body at an increased pace and exertion. Think: sprinting instead of running, or doing jump squats instead of regular squats. In a high-intensity workout you will perform exercises like this with little to no rest in between.
Interval training refers to speeding up and slowing down a movement, or alternating between movements that require different speeds or degrees of effort. Think: walking for one block then running for one block or doing 10 squats and then 10 pushups.
Combining these two types of training is highly effective because it keeps your body moving and guessing. HIIT workouts come with impressive health benefits including speeding up the metabolism, building muscle, burning fat, and increasing energy and cardiovascular endurance. Plus, you won’t only burn more calories while you’re exercising, but after the workout, since HIIT creates an “after-burn effect,” which means you burn more calories at rest.
15 exercises for a HIIT workout at home
You can easily create an effective HIIT workout at home with absolutely no equipment. These exercises are a strategic combination of both strength training and cardio, which when strung together creates a workout that is both high intensity and utilizes interval training.
To do a HIIT workout at home, choose 5 exercises and string them together into a circuit. Repeat the circuit 3 times through.
It’s important to remember that high intensity doesn’t have to mean high-impact. While jumps and explosive movements do increase calorie burn, muscle strength and mobility, these high-impact movements aren’t required for a workout to be considered high intensity. If you have knee, hip or joint pain in general, you should opt for the low-impact…
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