What to Expect From a Circuit Class

Circuits are Great for Both Cardio and Weight Training

Sep 20, 2009

Circuit classes are popular with both men and women of all ages and varying fitness levels.

The best thing about a circuit class is that an individual can work alongside other participants but at his own pace. Unlike aerobics or other exercise classes where a teacher leads the session and the participants follow, circuits are slightly more flexible and easily adaptable to suit all levels of fitness.

The Basic Plan to a Circuit Class

Circuit classes involve participants moving around the hall or gym stopping at exercise stations as they go. Each station will have a different exercise set by the instructor. The instructor will time the exercise and move the participants on to the next activity.

The stations will be carefully set by the instructor to ensure that participants receive a full body workout including a mix of resistance or weight training exercises along with cardio training.

A good instructor will generally choose the exercises to ensure participants can work one area of their body before moving on to work a totally different area. This will ensure that the first area receives time to recover before having to work again. Cardio and resistance work will also be mixed for the same reasons.

A Good Workout for all Fitness Levels

Varying the exercises and the muscle groups that are used during each station ensures that participants of all fitness levels will get the most out of their workout. For example, it will allow a less fit individual to rest one area of his body while he works the next area or a fitter individual can work out at a higher level ensuring she gets to rest her fatigued muscle groups before they are needed again.

The instructor will usually provide variations of the exercises at each station ensuring that all fitness levels are catered to. A less fit individual can start on the easier versions before working up to include some of the harder variations as he improves his fitness levels and technique.

The Basic Structure of a Circuit Class

The class will be lead by a fitness instructor who will take the whole group through a warm up and pre-exercise stretches. He will then split the group depending on the number of stations he has planned for the session. The class will move around the stations and the instructor will indicate when to move on to the next and help correct technique as they go.

Time spent at each station will vary depending on how long the session is and how many stations the instructor has planned. The average time is between one and two minutes per station.

At the end of the session the instructor will call the group together again and lead a cool down followed by post-exercise stretches.

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