HIIT or High-Intensity Interval Training workout is quickly becoming one of the go-to workouts for many people. It is the latest buzzword in the fitness industry these days. It comprises of high-intensity exercises that are performed with regular intervals of rest in between. The reason for the popularity of this workout among fitness enthusiasts is that it combines the effectiveness of both strength training as well as cardio. Moreover, it is also considered to be great for losing weight quickly too. In this article, we are going to discuss the basics of this workout regime and find out what it is all about.

Basics of HIIT

As its name suggests, HIIT comprises of high-intensity exercises that are followed by intervals of rest. This workout routine requires you to give your 100% effort when performing the high-intensity exercise. You should hold nothing back during this period and give it your all. These high-intensity exercises are to be performed for a small duration of time ranging from 3 to 5 minutes. However, it does depend on your endurance level as well. Similarly, the rest intervals that occur in between the exercises are also dependent on your personal preference. Most HIIT workouts consider a ratio of 1:3 between exercise and rest as the most suitable.

Types of HIIT Workouts

The adoption of HIIT workouts by the masses has seen new incarnations of it being born. For instance, Crossfit has turned HIIT into a group-style workout. Their strategy is to form groups of people and ask them to perform the exercises together. The HIIT workouts on offer in Crossfit gyms are supervised by a coach and last for approximately an hour. During this time, you are asked to perform the workout of the day or WOD. The WOD consists of different exercises that need to be performed in a certain time period after which you get to rest for a while. Sometimes the exercises of the WOD need to be performed in terms of reps.

Aside from the Crossfit version of HIIT, the other two types of HIIT workouts that are gaining popularity among fitness trainers are Tabata and Boot-Camp style. Tabata is a Japanese take on the HIIT workouts and follows a simple routine for 20 seconds of exercise followed by a 10- second rest. In the Boot-Camp style HIIT, you are asked to perform an activity at high speeds in short intervals as well  before getting rest.   

Gym Deals helps Australians find the right gym located near their home. If you are interested in HIIT workouts and are looking for a gym that offers this program then we can help you find it.