When people are struggling to start an exercise regimen, sometimes it isn’t a lack of motivation, time, or energy that holds them back. Sometimes the problem is that there are so many types of workouts out there and they aren’t sure where to begin.
Allow us to help! Let’s talk about a particularly effective type of workout that can be fun for the whole family: interval training.
What Is Interval Training?
Interval training is a type of exercise in which you have short periods of high-energy activity with short rest periods in between. For example, you might be active for 60 seconds and then take a 30-second rest before jumping into another 60-second interval.
Interval training is a great workout for your heart health because you’re able to get a great cardio workout in a short period of time. It’s also perfect for families because it moves quickly, so kids are less likely to get bored and drop off.
How to Make Interval Training Fun for the Whole Family
If you’re trying to boost your entire family’s fitness level, you want a workout that everyone can enjoy. That’s the beauty of interval training: it doesn’t take much time, it keeps kids interested, and it’s a workout that you can turn into a fun family hangout. Try these ways to put interval training to use for your family.
Set Up a Homemade Circuit
Many young kids have done “stations” in school at some point: they rotate through several short activities with their classmates, with each station set up to teach them something new. You can set up a DIY interval training circuit at home in the same way. One station might be jumping jacks, another might be push-ups, or step aerobics, jumping rope, running in place, and so on. The whole family rotates around the stations for each interval.
Play a game of “Red Light, Green Light”
Usually, “Red Light, Green Light” is a racing game: kids race toward the finish line when you say “green light” but pause when you say “red light.” You can do something similar with interval training. Have a series of posterboards with an activity written on each one. The kids have to do the activity on the card until you say “red light” and give them time to rest.
If you really want to make it high-tech, you could even make a PowerPoint presentation, using slides instead of poster boards for each activity. You can set up specific time limits for each slide so the whole family can follow along and be active together.
Interval training is a great way to help your family get active and get healthier, but it’s just one option among many. For more help enjoying the benefits of fitness alongside your family, find out about our Mommy and Me fitness program. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram too for our Fit Tip Fridays and more family fitness tips!