The benefits of circuit training

If increasing your fitness is your focus, there’s very few that’ll benefit your body quite as much as good old circuit training. 

If you’re not familiar, circuit training is defined as a workout technique that utilizes a series of exercises performed in rotation with minimal rest between - often with the focus on different pieces of equipment, although not necessary. 

The form of training is popular in a huge variety of sports, from boxing and mixed martial arts to football and rugby - all forms of athletes can benefit from the workouts. 

Health benefits of circuit training

There are numerous health benefits that come with circuit training due to the wide range of different muscles used during the exercise rotation. 

In a typical workout, circuit training will target the whole body, meaning everything from the calves, quads, and hamstrings to the core, shoulders, chest and triceps are all covered inside a 30-minute workout. When combined with minimum rest, participants will also see an increase in their cardiovascular capabilities as progress continues.  

You can see a full list of circuit training health benefits below:

- Increased cardiovascular and pulmonary capability
-Increased bone density and muscle strength/endurance 
-Increased muscle size and appearance
- Improvement of numerous health conditions including joint and muscular pain, diabetes and obesity among many others
-Reduced body fat percentage 
-Reduced stress

It’s not just the physical health benefits that participants will see as there’s a huge mental gain that comes along with the short, intense workouts. Participants will often report less stress, decreased signs of depression and short term elation following a workout based around circuit training - similar to that of the runner's high thanks to the endorphins released. 

The social aspect of circuit training 

Similarly, the social aspect of circuit training is especially great for the mental wellness of participants with a combination of new people and goal-focused activity. 

Circuit classes are usually some of the friendliest places you can visit with everyone on the same page for self-improvement and an increased level of fitness. There’s plenty of different options to choose from, depending on the area that you live, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding a place to train. 

If looking for a social occasion and training with a group isn’t up your street, there’s nothing stopping you from setting up your own circuit and working out solo to maximize the training technique. 

What you need to get started 

If you’re looking to join in an existing circuit class at a gym or fitness center, you won’t need to bring along any specialist fitness equipment to get yourself started. 

Of course, activewear or workout clothing is always recommended alongside a bottle of water, but other than that, you’ll be good to get started no matter which gym you choose to visit.

If you’re looking to create your own circuit-based workout, you might need a few more pieces of equipment. There’s nothing set in stone for a circuit workout, but rather the equipment that you have on hand (if you’re pressed for the kit) or the gear needed for the exercises you want to complete. 

There are no rules.