Our Blog

News

Getting Started With HIIT

by | Oct 16, 2024 | News | 0 comments

Whether you’re new to fitness or simply looking to switch up your routine, HIIT workouts are  one of the best ways to build endurance and improve your overall health. Here’s everything you need to know to get started! 

What is HIIT?

HIIT Stands for High Intensity Interval Training, and is a workout technique that involves switching between short bursts of intense exercise, followed by short recovery periods. The key to HIIT is pushing yourself as hard as possible during the high-intensity periods, and then recovering so you can repeat it all over again.

Benefits of HIIT Workouts

Time-Efficient: HIIT workouts are one of the most efficient ways to keep fit within short amounts of time. With HIIT sessions lasting only around 30 minutes on average, it’s a quick and easy way to fit exercise around a busy schedule.

No Equipment needed: One of the biggest advantages of HIIT is its versatility. Whilst you absolutely can make use of equipment such as dumbbells, many HIIT routines can be done using just your bodyweight alone, making them highly accessible whether you’re at home, at the gym, or travelling. Short bursts of exercises like squats, burpees, and star jumps can offer a great full-body workout to improve strength and endurance.

Improves Cardiovascular health: HIIT challenges your heart and lungs, improving blood circulation, endurance, and overall cardiovascular fitness.

The After-Burn Effect: The afterburn effect, or excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), is when your body keeps burning calories at a high rate after you finish exercising. Because HIIT workouts are so intense, they create a greater afterburn effect compared to regular steady exercises. This means that you can continue to burn calories even after your workout is finished!

Beginners HIIT Workout Example 

Please consult your GP if you have any medical problems.

Warm Up

Arm Circles – 30 seconds

Leg Swings – 30 seconds

Jog on the Spot – 1 minute

HIIT Circuit

Perform each exercise for 30 seconds, followed by 20 seconds of rest. Repeat the circuit 2-3 times.

Star Jumps

Jump Squats

Mountain Climbers

Modified Push Ups

Bicycle Crunches

High Knees

Cool Down

Standing Quad Stretch – 30 seconds per leg

Hamstring Stretch – 30 seconds per leg

Shoulder Stretch – 30 seconds per arm

Feel free to tone the workout up or down based on your fitness levels. If you’re a beginner, take longer rest periods or modify exercises (like doing push-ups from your knees).
If you’re more advanced, try increasing the intensity by doing the exercises faster or adding weights. The key is to challenge yourself while maintaining good form.

Want more info on how to start your HIIT journey?

Book in for a 1-1 personal training session with our Gym team by visiting www.ymcagym.co.uk or contact our North Shields branch here.

11th Annual Aerobathon

This year was our 11th Annual Aerobathon and, with the amazing support of our participants, we have so far managed to raise £632.50 for Breast Cancer Now and YMCA North Tyneside. All of our instructors donate their time to make the event happen which contributes to...

Les Mills at YMCA GYM

  We're proud to introduce Les Mills BODYPUMP™ and BODYBALANCE™ new to YMCA Gym in North Shields.   BODYPUMP™ A barbell workout for anyone looking to get lean, toned and fit – fast. Using light to moderate weights with lots of...

Steve Smashes the Helvellyn Triathlon

We caught up with Steve Pugh, one of the team at YMCA, who has just completed one of the biggest challenges of his life (and fundraising for YMCA in the process). His goal was to complete the Helvellyn Triathlon on 2nd September 2018 in under 5 hours. He started...

FREE Yoga and Powerlifting for young people

YMCA North Tyneside has received funding from Sport England​, ​for the 3rd year running​​, ​to deliver free fitness programmes for young people aged between 12-25 yrs, into 2017. Sportivate is a Lottery Funded Programme with Sport England. The programme was developed...

Victoria brings physiotherapy expertise to YMCA Gym

We're excited to announce that physiotherapy specialist, Victoria Alfar of Sports Therapy at the Coast, has taken up residency at YMCA Gym, North Shields. Victoria has practised physiotherapy both in the UK and across the world including; Dubai and Qatar, completing...

YMCA “Sharks” do us proud…

Back o' the net! YMCA "Sharks" 5-a-side beach football team held the eventual winners of the Northumberland FA: Tynemouth Beach 5-a-side 2016 Competition, to Nil-Nil until the dying seconds. Whilst they didn't take overall victory, the YMCA team won the respect the...