4 Cross Training Benefits

Cross training is simply doing a variety of workouts – either during the same workout, or over the course of a workout schedule.

Specifically, cross training includes cardio, resistance training, and stretching – either all in the same workout or over the course of a week or several weeks.

Let me give you an example, a single cross training workout might be include:

Workout: 30 minutes on an elliptical, 15 minutes resistance training, and 25 minutes stretching.

Or, it might be over the course of several workouts and be scheduled as follows:

Day 1: 40 minute jog.

Day 2: 35 minutes of weight training and 25 minutes of core exercises.

Day 3: 25 minutes on a stationary bike and 35 minutes stretching.

Day 4: 45 minutes of rowing, followed by a 25 minute stretch.

4 Benefits of Cross Training

1. Variety. Why do the same workout over and over. Cross training makes working out interesting and varied.

2. You perform better and get more fit by working out all systems of your body by doing all the disciplines. For example, weight training can and does benefit running. Stretching benefits weight lifting … and so forth.

3. Let your body recover. If you do a one hour weight lifting workout of your upper body, you certainly don’t want to do another hour of weight training on your upper body the next day. But, you can do a nice 40 minute elliptical training session or 45 minute stationary bike ride.

4. The complementary skills you get from the different disciplines can help improve your performance and conditioning in your primary workout discipline. If you’re a swimmer, resistance training and stretching can help your swimming performance.

Get creative with cross training. You can mix up a particular discipline as well. For example, if you’re a swimmer, you can do long distance swimming one day and then do sprints another day.

Cross training is a fun way to workout – that’s the biggest benefit for me. The fact it can improve your primary discipline or all other workouts, that’s a huge bonus.

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