Different Types of Exercise and Why Variety is Important

Variety is the essence of life, and that idiom applies to your weekly exercise regimen as well. Diverse forms of exercise not only mitigate the monotony of routine, but also contribute to the development of a comprehensive physical experience by stimulating the body’s proverbial faculties. Segregating oneself to a specific form of physical activity may expedite progress in that domain; however, it may also result in disregarding other physiological requirements, thereby causing a bodily imbalance and, more significantly, an escalation in specific health hazards.

Consider your body to be a meticulously tuned mechanism that, similar to machines, requires various forms of maintenance. Consider a vehicle; prior to embarking on a lengthy voyage, not only the engine but also every component of the vehicle—oil, brakes, suspension, tires, and so forth—must be in pristine condition to ensure a safe and comfortable experience.

What types of workouts are there?

You may be wondering, now that we’ve discussed the importance of variety, which exercise regimens should I engage in? We remain committed to assisting you in attaining your fitness objectives. To that end, we have compiled a list of various forms of exercise accompanied by their corresponding advantages.

Cardio training (aerobic and anaerobic)

Cardiovascular exercise has gained significant popularity, largely due to the influence of Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons. Additionally, cardiovascular exercise encompasses an inexhaustible variety of routines, including running, walking, cycling, cross-country skiing, swimming, and dancing, among others. Cardiovascular exercise is essentially anything that causes an increase in heart rate beyond the level of sedentary heart rate. However, distinct categories of cardio exist, including both aerobic and anaerobic exercises. Obtain a dive in.

Steady state (aerobic)

This category of cardiovascular exercise pertains to the velocity at which you complete your activity and may encompass any degree of intensity. Exactly as its name implies, the objective is to sustain a consistent cadence and level of exertion throughout the designated exercise routine.

Low- and moderate intensity (aerobic)

Consider a leisurely bike ride or stroll, both of which maintain a heart rate below 50% of the individual’s maximal heart rate (MHR). This classifies low-intensity exercise.

Workouts of moderate intensity raise the heart rate to 50–70 percent of the MHR. You should be capable of maintaining a conversation and passing the discussion test at a moderate intensity. Engaging in physical activities such as running, hiking, bicycling, swimming, or attending fitness classes falls within the category of moderate intensity.

High-intensity and intervals (anaerobic)

We are now entering a zone of intense activity. Here is where you can anticipate to exert considerable effort, maintaining a heart rate greater than 70% of your maximum heart rate (MHR). High-intensity exercises consist of sprints, certain types of resistance training, and HIIT (high-intensity interval training), for which 8fit is renowned.

Intervals occur when exercises consisting of a single round are divided into multiple sections (repetitions) for the purpose of completing the workout. Although they can be categorized into various forms, segments of time or distance are the most prevalent.

Intervals are often split into work-to-rest ratios, with high-intensity exercises like sprints or skipping rope constituting working intervals while lower intensity movements like walking or can be a short break as rest. A good rule of thumb regarding the work-to-rest ratio is as follows:

Beginner (1:2): One part high-intensity interval followed by two parts lower intensity interval to allow the body to recover before hitting that high-intensity interval again.
Intermediate to advanced athlete (2:1): Here twice the amount of time or reps is devoted to high-intensity intervals, while half is allocated to recovery intervals.

The great thing about these ratios is that you can always play around with the numbers and find just the right ratio to push you to your personal limits.

Sports

In a fitness industry predicated on individualized, goal-oriented exercises designed to help people lose weight, improve their health, or become leaner, the act of simply participating in a sport is frequently neglected. Sports, being an all-encompassing and most importantly enjoyable mode of exercise, possess the potential to significantly inspire and sustain individuals in their physical activity levels, particularly as they age. Team sports such as hockey, basketball, and soccer provide exceptional opportunities for individuals to combine rigorous physical conditioning with an immense amount of enjoyment and social interaction.

Weight training (resistance training)

A common misconception is that weight training will lead to one outcome and one outcome only — hypertrophy. But in fact, there are many goals you achieve through resistance training with weights in the form rep and set schemes along with the percentages of your 1Rm (1 rep max) that you are lifting.

Hypertrophy: Enlargement muscles by increasing size of cells in muscle fiber
Muscular endurance: Ability of muscles to exert tension over a long period of time
Muscular strength: The amount of force a muscle exerts in a single max. effort
Cardio training: Using weights or resistance to work your aerobic energy systems

The last bullet point probably caught you off guard, but yes indeed, you can do cardio training through weight training as well. As long as you elevate your heart rate to higher than that of your RHR (resting heart rate), then you’re actually incorporating a cardio element to your workout.

Flexibility training

In addition to the capacity to grasp one’s toes, flexibility encompasses overall musculoskeletal well-being. Although certain individuals possess inherent flexibility from birth, that does not imply that those who lack it are destined to find it unattainable. Physical activities that promote flexibility and mobility, such as stretching, are frequently disregarded or considered “improper” due to the apparent lack of effort required. Neglecting to incorporate this form of exercise into your routine may be detrimental to your health, as impaired mobility can restrict your range of motion, impede your progress toward your fitness objectives, and, in the most severe cases, result in future injuries.

Here are some styles of flexibility training that both complement different types of workouts, as well as include strength elements within them.

Stretching

Every stretch can be either static or dynamic and passive or active. Dynamic and active stretches are more helpful for improving functional movements used in everyday life and sports. Here’s a breakdown:

Static stretching is isometric (developing muscular tension without contraction of the muscle), you hold a challenging position for at least 20-30 seconds.
Dynamic stretching is a stretch performed by moving through a challenging but comfortable range of motion repeatedly.
Passive stretching uses external “assistance” to help you stretch. It’s a technique where you relax into a stretch while an external force (someone or something) intensifies the stretch further.
Active stretching applies motion, so you relax the muscle you’re trying to stretch and rely on the opposing muscle to initiate the stretch.
Ballistic stretching is uncontrolled, erratic, and jerky. It can be a form of passive stretching or a dynamic stretching in a fast, bouncing motion, forcing the limb into an extended range of motion.
PNF (Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) is a contract-stretch-hold technique repeated 10-12 times, and research says it may be the most effective stretching technique for increasing range of motion.

Yoga

Present-day yoga encompasses an equivalent variety of styles as there are activewear brand collections. The most well-known include Hatha, Ashtanga, Iyengar, heated yoga, vinyasa flow, Kundalini, and yin. By integrating the body and respiration via stretching, isometric bodyweight exercises, and moving meditation, these practices are all interconnected. Consistent practice will facilitate the stretching of ligaments, the mobilization of joints, and the strengthening of muscles; in essence, it will maintain your flexibility.

Pilates

“Powerhouse” is the name Pilates instructors give to this technique of exercise, which was created by Joseph Pilates and consists of controlled movements with an emphasis on core development, breathing, and alignment. Pilates will strengthen over time not only flexibility but also overall stability, coordination, and balance.

Mobility work

If you’re looking to release tight, sore muscles after a killer workout, then you may want to check out foam rolling. This form of mobility work, along with other devices like lacrosse balls for trigger points, are an indispensable part of any regular workout regime. Foam rolling offers deep tissue release and can be done pre-workout to warm muscles up or post-workout to alleviate tension.

Also read: Why Your Workouts Need Variety?

Reaping the rewards of exercise variety

Now you’ve got the lowdown on the importance of including different types of workouts into your routine and what kinds are out there, you may be interested in how this will impact your overall health and fitness.

Benefits of cardio:

Improves cardiorespiratory and pulmonary health, measurable by a lower resting heart rate
Reduces blood pressure
Reduce risks of a stroke, heart disease, and eventual heart attack
Increases circulation
Lowers the risk of diabetes

Weight training:

Increases muscle mass, endurance, and strength
Ramps up your metabolism through increased muscle mass an so burns fat
Increases bone density, especially vital as women age, due to the risk of osteoporosis
Builds good posture
Strengthens joints thus reducing muscular imbalance issues

Flexibility training: