Daily physical exercise provides heightened fitness, weight loss and increased energy throughout your day. You don't need much physical activity to obtain these benefits -- for most adults, 60 minutes of moderate exercise a day is adequate. However, time constraints might prevent you from achieving even a moderate amount of exercise. Circuit training is a high-intensity approach to exercise that allows you to maximize your workout time.
Function
Circuit training consists of performing a variety of exercises consecutively, with only a brief rest between each exercise. Some circuit-training regimens require no rest at all between exercises. After you complete one circuit, or one of each type of exercise, you start at the beginning again. Depending on your fitness goals, you can vary the intensity of the exercises, the types of muscle groups the exercises incorporate, the number of circuits you perform and the length of rest time between exercises.
Types
Cardiovascular circuit training incorporates a number of intense exercises that raise your heart rate. For example, you might jog, perform jumping jacks, sprint, do pushups and then finish the circuit by walking briskly, all without taking a break. Weightlifters also incorporate circuit training. For instance, you could perform consecutive exercises that build your biceps, triceps, chest, back and shoulders.
Benefits
An appropriate daily circuit-training program provides you with the proper amount of exercise to achieve your fitness goals within your time constraints. Because the workout requires few rest breaks, you maximize your workout time. Athletes also benefit from circuit training because they can incorporate many different forms of exercise into one workout routine, allowing them to perform customized workouts that develop the muscle movements and skills necessary for their sport.
Safety Risks
The disadvantage of circuit sharing is that it is easy to hurt yourself. For example, if you move too quickly, you might not perform exercises with the correct form, increasing your chance of injury. Also, if you perform too many exercises that incorporate a single muscle group, you risk straining those muscles. Beginners should work with a fitness trainer to develop an appropriate daily circuit-training program that maximizes workout time without posing a safety hazard. As with any new fitness program, consult your doctor first to ensure you are physically ready.
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