Have you tried tabata before? Or done a tabata-style workout before? I love it. I need to do it more often!
Tabata is a type of HIIT training method with short bursts of high-intensity moves mixed with periods of rest. True tabata is done 20 seconds of work (as hard as you can go) followed by 10 seconds of rest and you complete 8 rounds, so four minutes total. It seems quite easy because you only have do to 20 seconds of work. The difficult part however is that the rest period is only 10 seconds, which in the last few rounds feels like two seconds!
Tabata training is pretty versatile too. You can choose to do mostly strength training exercises, like push-ups, sit-ups, squats, etc. You could also choose to do plyometric moves, such as medicine ball throws or slams, box jumps, burpees, etc.
I actually chose to mix and match strength and plyometrics for this workout. One thing I want to point out is that you should complete all eight rounds of each exercise before moving on to the next. Also, rest completely between rounds. During the sprints I set the treadmill at 9.0 mph and then during the 10 seconds of rest I hopped onto the bumpers. Then I’d hold on for a second or two as I got my footing and started sprinting again. It is quite challenging!
This workout should take about 30 minutes, plus your warm-up and cool down time. It is a quick way to get your heart rate up and increase endurance without working out for hours and hours. Tabata is a good workout to throw into your routine to change things up and keep from getting bored!
If you want to learn more about tabata training then check out this article by Fara Rosenzweig on Active.com called “What Is Tabata Training?”.
If you are interested in another HIIT type of workout then also check out 30-Minute Elliptical HIIT or Treadmill Incline Intervals.
Have you done a tabata workout before?
