Circuit Training Exercises

With its ability to promote muscle building and fat burning, a circuit training workout represents a terrific exercise regimen that can be done in a relatively short amount of time. But, lately I have employed circuit training exercises as a way of increasing my stamina and cardiovascular strength. The concept behind circuit training is to transition from one exercise type to another with essentially no break between them. I find it useful to integrate circuit weight training regimens at the tail end of a normal workout so that my heart rate can become elevated and I am able to burn additional fat. Circuit training is beneficial because it allows you to integrate as few or as many movements into a workout.

Since I perform my exercises at home, I split my circuit training exercises into a trio of types: bodyweight, dumbbell and barbell. Doing so removes the necessity of swapping out different weights, and facilitates rapid transitions from one type of exercise to another without taking a break in between them. When I perform my barbell exercises, I like to lift a 65 lb weight. Though this is insufficient weight for every exercise I undertake, it does offer a fair amount of resistance, and therefore aids in achieving my objective of increased cardiovascular health. For my dumbbell exercises, I employ weights of 12 lbs. Similarly, this is insufficient weight for some of the exercises, but it is an appropriate weight for completing rapid repetitions, as opposed to the deliberate, slow weight lifting that comprises a portion of my strength training regimen. Body weight movements are ideal additions to any circuit training plan, because they do not require any additional equipment.

Clearly, a wide range of useful movements exists which can be blended into your circuit training workout. It is not uncommon for me to complete upwards of 15-20 of such movements consecutively without a break. The movements make the end of my routines more interesting, and each one has a different impact on my muscles. All I need to do is finish 1 circuit of 10 repetitions per movement. I make a conscious effort not to work the same muscles in consecutive movements.

It is certainly possible to perform circuit weight training routines that are briefer than 15-20 different movements. For instance, MMA star Randy Couture performs a circuit training regimen encompassing upright and bent over rows, military presses, lunges, good mornings, squat push presses and dead lifts only. The routine is made of 8 repetitions of each movement, completed in 3-5 sets, including a minute of rest dividing each circuit.

Workout routines can include countless types of circuit training exercises. Develop your own circuit weight training regimen by aggregating some of the exercises you like best. Complete a hard set near the end of a typical strength training workout in order to give yourself a healthy cardiovascular workout which will aid in fat burning and muscle building.