circuit training

Beginner ⚽ Sports / Fitness

Definition

A workout format performing different exercises back-to-back with minimal rest between stations, creating a cardio and strength hybrid that makes you wonder if catching your breath is still a thing humans get to do.

Example Usage

The circuit training class had 12 stations and no mercy, which I discovered when the instructor said 'water break' was for quitters.

Origin

Developed by R.E. Morgan and G.T. Anderson at the University of Leeds in 1953

Fun Fact

Circuit training was originally designed for British athletes in cramped spaces, proving that making exercise maximally efficient and uncomfortable is a time-honored tradition.

Source: Group fitness and general exercise programming

Related Terms

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foam rolling

Self-myofascial release technique using a cylindrical foam device to massage muscles and connective tissue. The art of torturing yourself with a pool noodle's aggressive cousin.

⚽ Sports / Fitness
Intermediate

time trial

A racing effort against the clock rather than direct competitors, testing your ability to pace suffering over a predetermined distance. The loneliest way to discover your pain threshold.

⚽ Sports / Fitness
Advanced

Zone 2

A heart rate training zone where you exercise at a moderate intensity that feels suspiciously easy, which is exactly why it's effective and exactly why gym bros refuse to do it. It's the fitness equivalent of being told to slow down and actually enjoy the journey.

⚽ Sports / Fitness
Intermediate

Compound Lift

An exercise that works multiple muscle groups at once, which is basically the multitasking of the gym world. Squats, deadlifts, and bench press are the holy trinity, and people who do them will absolutely tell you about it unprompted.

⚽ Sports / Fitness
Advanced

macrocycle

The longest training phase in periodization, typically lasting several months to a year, encompassing multiple mesocycles. The fitness equivalent of a five-year business plan that nobody follows perfectly.

⚽ Sports / Fitness
Advanced

Deload

A planned week of reduced training intensity that your ego will fight against even though your body desperately needs it. It's the workout equivalent of a spa day, except you still go to the gym and just lift lighter while feeling like a fraud.

⚽ Sports / Fitness

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