Do you cross-train?
There are many benefits to doing a variety of activities, including muscular, cardiovascular, and health improvements. These include:
Enhanced Adherence – Repeat anything enough, no matter how enjoyable, and it starts to become less fun. Try running 7 days a week and the daily run will soon feel like a slog. However, mix up your workouts and each day will be new and exciting! This will not only offer fitness benefits, but you’ll stick with it long enough to see actual results. It also allows your body the rejuvenation it needs to respond to the demands you ask of it on heavy training days.
Fit Pregnancy – Many women find that they are unable to do high intensity or impact activities like running while pregnant. A cross-training routine provides the fitness benefits that will help for a successfully fit pregnancy, delivery, and recovery.
We all experience plateaus, and cross-training gives you the tools you’ll need to keep achieving your fitness goals. If you’re not sure how to implement an effective cross-training program, or what to do to balance out your “favorite” movements, talk to a Momentum personal trainer to come up with a solid, well-rounded program!
Do you cross-train?
There are many benefits to doing a variety of activities, including muscular, cardiovascular, and health improvements. These include:
Greater Fitness Gains – Sticking with one activity will increase sport specificity, but cross training will enable the exerciser to be proficient and “in-shape” for a variety of activities. Adventure 5ks such as the Spartan are a great example of its benefits – encompassing speed, endurance, strength, agility, and flexibility, all in one event. A training schedule that includes only running would put the participant at a disadvantage during its strength and functional components.
Active Recovery – Rest and proper recovery is an essential part of improving fitness. For example, if you do a strength circuit, it’s wise to have a day of recovery afterward. Add every other day of cross-training and you’ll see better results, as well as improved cardiovascular endurance and range of motion.
Do you cross-train?
Think of a well-rounded program as touching all the points of a healthy body- flexibility, strength, core stability, endurance, cardiovascular health. You’ll want to include movements or activities that tax your cardiovascular system like running, biking, rowing, or swimming. Add in movements that build strength in the joints and muscular system like weight lifting, functional training, or machines.
Make sure to include core training to keep your movements controlled and efficient. Round out the program with movements that help improve range of motion in the joints and decrease tension like yoga, stretching, or mobility training.
Do you cross-train?
Think of a well-rounded program as touching all the points of a healthy body- flexibility, strength, core stability, endurance, cardiovascular health. You’ll want to include movements or activities that tax your cardiovascular system like running, biking, rowing, or swimming. Add in movements that build strength in the joints and muscular system like weight lifting, functional training, or machines. Make sure to include core training to keep your movements controlled and efficient. Round out the program with movements that help improve range of motion in the joints and decrease tension like yoga, stretching, or mobility training.
Wellness Tip of the Week: Cross-Training!
Not only does it enable you to stay interested, focused, and consistent with your workouts, but cross-training has a myriad of side-benefits, keeping you in shape enough to handle anything an active life throws at you. A common mistake exercisers make is to repeat the same movements, whether jogging lifting, or daily activities. This can lead to overuse strains, pains, and even injuries. Implementing a cross-training program will help alleviate these imbalances and address any weaknesses in your movement.