HIIT: Low on time, high on results.

HIIT feels like a new phenomenon, doesn’t it…like a badge to signify the millennial workout; a sign of the times where the world is frantic and demanding of instant results. 

But High-Intensity Interval Training isn’t a recent training approach. Short bursts of maximum effort have been part of exercise plans since, well, running for hours on end just got in the way of everything else.

Now, there are almost limitless ways of HIIT – tweaking the duration of the ‘work’ and rest phases; the kit you use; the overall length of the workout – the list is a long one. BUT…some things are consistent: It must, by definition, be high intensity, and therefore, should be over and done with pretty quickly. If that guy down the gym tells you he “…nailed a 90-minute HIIT sesh!” he’s either lying about the duration, or it wasn’t HIIT! (Either way, don’t take any future advice from him…)

The point of this type of training is to get your engine (heart and lungs) to quickly rev up toward maximum, then briefly rest before going again, repeatedly. This will use up more energy per 30-minute workout, than an alternative cardio plod. The HIIT effect is best achieved by getting big muscle groups (legs, butt, chest, back, shoulders) firing up with whole-body moves.

You don’t need – or want – a complicated kit to set up. You just don’t have the time. Boxing is an AMAZING full-body assault (hitting the pads, not each other!) that is a great option. Suspension training like the TRX is also spot on, as it’s so versatile and easy to use.

At Retrofit, we’ve got a menu of HIIT options for every palate. If you’re working out three to four times a week, one or two HIIT sessions will complement your cardio and strength sessions, and avoid the injury risk that too much pounding can bring. Take a look at our online timetable and choose your poison!