What Is HIIT Training?

By Jason Youmazzo - Greatest Results Trainer

HIIT (high-intensity interval training). Scary, challenging but for the athlete in all of us...

Thinking about the concept of 100%, then back that out 10% to 20% and you are closing in on where the effort should be when engaged in a HITT workout. This 80% to 90% effort can be a scary place, where one is out of breath; with the heart racing, muscles fatiguing and the mind asking the body “why have you done this to me”. With the flair for the dramatic behind us and with the correct preparation you can add this time maximizing workout to your weekly routine with confidence thus reaping its rewards.

HITT is a form of cardiovascular exercise that alternates short periods of intense anaerobic exercise with less intense recovery periods, pushing toward a point of “too exhausted to continue”.

Benefits

1. You’ll keep burning the calories for hours
2. You’re more likely to stick to it
3. Workouts can boost your endurance
4. Can increase VO2 max (oxygen consumption)
5. Is time-efficient
6. Can take many forms
7. Is great for your heart *Men's Journal

The trick to adding HIIT to your weekly routine is to just start, knowing that it will be challenging at first. Currently there are a number of classes on the schedule and programs like “Tribe” and “Greatest Results”. In addition in February I will be adding a new HITT program that will be offered in the evenings. These 30min to 45min sessions will consist of a 6 week program intended to unlock greater performance in all aspects of performance with coaching that focuses on flexibility, mobility, core strength and the muscular endurance needed to perform exercises and movement patterns correctly. The coaching will allow participants to reach the 80% and 90% output needed to fully realize the benefits of high-intensity interval training.