Rest Periods With Circuit Training?

In order to be in good shape, you have to understand what your body can handle and how much you're willing to put it through. We may never know what we're truly capable of but it's also important to not put our bodies through so much stress that it could become our downfall and not just from burning out but also with injuries physically, emotionally and mentally.

I do believe in teaching the body to adapt but I also believe in the energy we feel and how it determines our capabilities. If you're in a sport, you adapt a program that comes with that sport and whether it's small time training or developing world class attributes, your body will push through with the idea in mind of how mentally capable you are along with physical exertion.

This brings up the point of Circuit Training; the aspects of moving from one exercise to another without resting and finishing it as a round of those exercises which could be a superset or up to 4 exercises or more. Some see Circuit Training as a form of conditioning or used in weights by going from one station to another. I prefer bodyweight Circuit Training as it is a continuation of using nothing but yourself from one exercise to another.

For the most part, recovery is just as essential as the training itself or at times more than the training itself. Being able to rest and recover is very beneficial as it allows the body to revert to a normal state of breathing, blood flow and getting rid of lactic acid build up from the intense workout. Some circuits have you resting for a specific period of time or not at all and sometimes for as long as you need. Some workouts you can push through hard but need time to recover in order to be efficient for the next round.

Lately, some of the circuits I've done were very basic but still a challenge to push through yet I just keep going round after round without stopping. The only real stoppage I did was checking off the round and get back into position and start up again which is less than a few seconds. I want that challenge of not only keeping my heart rate at a solid level but have it there the entire time i'm training. I love knowing the fact I can go through a circuit without really resting. It's a testament of my conditioning and level of fitness I strive for.

I sort of every now and then get that wrestler's mentality of not resting while I train because on the mat, if you get tired or just flat out fatigued during the match, it'll get you killed and you can get pinned. I want to be in good condition and have that be a way of being ready for the unexpected. Having solid conditioning is not just about busting through a workout, it's more about preparing your body and mind for other things outside of your training; being able to go long periods of time helping others move, easily carrying groceries for your spouse, going up flights of stairs without needing to catch your breath early on (big thing to have if you're a firefighter or in law enforcement) and being able to last longer than an opponent in your chosen sport like MMA or Basketball.

Karl Gotch once said "Conditioning Is Your Greatest Hold." This holds true besides just wrestling; it's for people who help save lives, chase down criminals, outlasting the other team in a game, playing with your kids, going for a hike and other things.

So back to the question at hand; do you rest during circuits? Depending on your fitness level, rest for the amount you need in order to keep the pace and be able to blast through it. The better your level of conditioning, the less time you need to recover to eventually you can go through a full series of circuits without stopping. However, some workouts last only a few minutes but others can take up to an hour; the more intense it is, the less amount of time you truly need to push through. Most circuits I do don't last more than 30 minutes which is more than enough for me and don't want to burn out and keeps me in the shape I feel works.

Here are a few circuits I did that had little to no rest......

As you can see, they're less than 30 minutes but will give most people a run for their money. Can be done anywhere, anytime and it keeps you on your toes. They're intense and proficient for developing real world conditioning. If you can't get through these without stopping, rest as long as you need to and get back at it, reduce the rest periods over time and eventually, you'll be well conditioned enough to tackle these without stopping and having some energy left in the tank. Have fun with these.