Think of Your Heart chronicles by ,
September 10, 2014 - 11:15
It’s not what you do that counts, but how you do it. Interval training lets you maximize your workouts while vastly improving your health and cardiovascular capacity. The examples below illustrate how easy it is to do this type of training on your own. You’ll see results with just two to three workouts per week.
Cycling
On a stationary bike or a regular bike, pedal hard for 30 seconds, then recover for 30 seconds; repeat four times. Rest for two minutes, then repeat the five-minute set.
Walking
Walk briskly for 30 seconds, then recover for 30 seconds. Repeat as described above.
Swimming
Swim one lap as fast as you can, followed by a slower recovery lap. Repeat as described above.
During high-intensity intervals, you should feel somewhat winded without ever feeling like you have reached your limit.
Contributed by Valérie Guilbeault, kinesiologist