HIIT is a Big Hit at Midtown
If you haven’t already heard, we’re big fans of HIIT workouts at Midtown. No, I’m not talking about a workout where you physically hit things (though, we do love to do that in our EverybodyFights studio). I’m talking about High Intensity Interval Training; a scientifically proven way to build cardiovascular fitness that has taken the fitness world by storm.
HIIT workouts focus on exerting a high level of effort for a short period of time, resting, and then repeating. In doing this, you are pushing your heart rate to greater than 85 percent of your maximum capacity, creating an impact force greater than ten times your body weight, and performing exercises until failure.
While this might sound exhausting, the good news is, Les Mills suggests only participating in two 30-minute HIIT sessions a week to boost an existing workout regimen of strength training, core workouts or yoga and moderate cardio sessions.
If you’re not already convinced to give HIIT workouts a try, here are five of the top researched reasons to put HIIT on your own workout list as shared on Les Mills’ blog:
- HIIT improves lean body mass and maximal oxygen consumption, while drastically cutting the risk of heart disease. Learn more.
- HIIT is extremely effective at cutting stubborn and unhealthy tummy fat. Learn more.
- In both young (18 to 30) and older (65 to 80) exercisers, a major study showed HIIT had by far the greatest activation of muscle and fat-burning capacity, when compared with other types of exercise. Learn more.
- HIIT has been shown to be much better than other workouts for producing excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), meaning your body continues to use oxygen and burn fat long after you’ve stopped exercising. Learn more.
- HIIT has been shown to be more enjoyable – in one study 92 percent of participants favored a HIIT workout over traditional moderate continuous exercise. Learn more.
Ready to give HIIT a try? Midtown offers a number of HIIT classes on our group exercise schedule, including GRIT by Les Mills.
Still uncertain about taking a HIIT class? Try this free 30-minute HIIT workout at home before you join us in our group exercise studio.