After each circuit (which is traditionally 8-12 exercises), a 1-5 minute rest is optional to replenish your mental and physical energies. If you’re goal is to lose bodyfat, expend this time on the stair machine or stationary bike. This will recuperate your muscles from the weights while your cardio/respiratory system remains active using fat as fuel.

Even though I’m sounding like a drill-sergeant by suggesting that you move from exercise-to-exercise with little or no rest, I must encourage you take as much time as you need to adjust each apparatus for yourself, select the specific resistances for each of your exercises, and zero-in on the specific technical applications of every movement.

After completing a circuit training workout, you’ll feel refreshed and less sore. Circuit training promotes the removal of toxins which build up in the body during rigorous activity. During the deceleration periods in conventional methods, toxins become trapped within the tissues as the less active heart slows down the rate of blood flow. Circuit training’s continuous cardiovascular requirements flushes toxins out from the tissues with the forcing of blood through the tubal pathways of the CV system. Your muscles become cleaner and recuperate immediately after each workout.

Conventional methods suggest that the applicant handle heavier resistances with 6-10 rep sets. Inter-set rest periods of up to 6 minutes replenish the ability to lift more weight but, at the same time, can subject the lifter to possible injuries. Injuries can occur from extended rest periods which cool the tissues. Over-emphasization of heavy resistances can place too much stress to the muscles, tendons and ligaments instead of prioritizing muscular activity to an extended duration activity.

Since circuit training is continuous, resistances automatically become substantially lighter. The reduction in total weight lifted is compensated by eliminating any inter-set rest intervals (keeping the muscles fatigued). The higher number of repetitions suggested for each set during circuit training forces your muscles to rely on lighter poundages.

By performing more repetitions in each set (10-20), the duration required to complete each set is substantially lengthened. As the applicant remains active, the muscles can work just as hard as during conventional methods but now the added responsibilities from the heart and lungs add to the benefits.

When understood, the mission behind circuit training makes a lot of sense for plenty of reasons, some of which I’ve just explained. For those who are avid conventional applicants, I suggest using circuit training at least twice each year for 1-3 week periods to break the monotony of heavy training, condition the heart and lungs, provide a variety of mental challenges, and assist in burning some extra fat.

If you’re still skeptical, give circuit training a fair chance to prove itself. As long as you as you remain active during your workouts, you’ll accomplish everything you would normally achieve from one of your high or low-impact aerobic classes but now you’re taking advantage of specific muscle shaping movements with apparatus.