What is Cross Training?

Cross Training helps you improve your whole-body fitness as it uses several types of exercise, like swimming, cycling or rowing, which can ultimately lead to improved health and fewer injuries. If you are looking to become a well-rounded athlete and never again be bored at the gym, this is the workout for you. 

Why should I do it?

 The benefits of cross training are numerous. Here are a few of them:

• Reduces risk of injury: When multiple muscles and joints are engaged throughout workouts, the stress is divided among them allowing you to exercise more often and for longer periods. Possibly vulnerable areas of your body, like the knees or lower back, aren’t constantly being worn out, which assists in their full recovery after workouts and reduces the chances of injuring them.
• Promotes weight loss: Multiple research suggests that the most effective workouts in losing weight are those that last long (30 minutes or more) and are being conducted on a moderate level of intensity. Since cross training allows you to exercise for longer periods and incorporates a variety of exercises, it can be used to achieve your desired weight goal.
• Helps you stick to your fitness goal: By combining a variety of exercises into your daily workouts, cross training helps you incorporate activity in your overall life and takes boredom out of the equation. Once working out becomes part of your lifestyle, your fitness goals will be closer and reaching them will be easier than ever.

How do I get started?

It’s quite simple really. Try doing anything that seems interesting to you. Try yoga, a spin class, the rowing machine, the elliptical trainer. Incorporate a variety of exercises in your daily workout regimen and don’t just stick to your gym. Go hiking with friends, go roller skating at your local roller-skating ring or go swimming at the ocean. Once you start feeling comfortable with simpler types of exercise try new and more complex ones, like surfing or water ski. Always consult a professional before starting something new, in order to get the most out of every physical experience and keep your body injury-free. Just have fun with it, while keeping your body healthy.