Everyone is looking for the best type of workout training, whether it’s focusing on cardio sessions, pushing through weightlifting reps, homing in on mobility, but the reality unfortunately, is that when it comes to fitness there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. However, one method is taking the fitness community by storm recently and that’s hybrid training. From fitness experts to influencers, hybrid training has become a popular buzzword, but what exactly is it? In this blog, we’ll provide you with all the main points when it comes to hybrid training, so let’s jump right in.
What Hybrid Training Consists of
Hybrid training is a method that has actually been around for years, but like most things it has come in cycles. This type of training combines different workout disciplines in order to improve in several areas over the same time period rather than solely improving in one. The main two areas people target are cardio and strength training, which are often kept separate or seen as single disciplines, however hybrid training puts a focus on both as well as functional or mobility/flexibility training to incorporate the best of all worlds. Best of all, these can be worked on in the same session or different days and it is highly adjustable depending on personal preference, or goal meaning you can split your time between disciplines whatever suits you best.
Breaking Down Each Element
Strength Training
Strength training during a hybrid workout routine means focussing on exercises such as squats, deadlifts, bench-pressing and so on, all exercises that ultimately build strength. These exercises work your muscles, allowing them to build, but don’t be put off if that’s not something you usually focus on as you don’t have to lift the heaviest weight, most exercises in terms of strength can be performed with just your body weight. Building your strength and muscle mass is hugely beneficial when it comes to general health as well as performance in other key areas such as endurance or cardio. It’s recommended that you incorporate strength training into at least half your workout sessions throughout the week or even split your session between strength training and another type of exercise.
Cardio Training
What’s ideal about cardio training is how versatile it is, whether you choose to run, swim, cycle, row, or any other exercise that gets your heart rate up, they all have their benefits. Again, it would be recommended that when hybrid training you spend around half your time doing cardio training which can be at a tempo that suits you, what’s important is you remain consistent in your hybrid balance. While many used to believe that cardio would undo the benefit associated with strength training, that myth has been put to bed and research has actually shown it can help support muscle growth. Ultimately, what you are looking to achieve through your cardio sessions is a growth in endurance levels which will reaps many benefits.
Functional and Mobility/Flexibility Training
Most hybrid plans solely target strength and cardio workouts, however, sprinkling in some mobility sessions can’t be recommended enough. This can be simple stretches to resistance band training in, all of which helps in completing daily tasks easier, especially as you age. Incorporating these exercises into your routine will compliment your cardio and strength sessions as well as your recovery. The more flexible and mobile you are, the more you’ll be able to push yourself in every workout.
Rest and Recovery
While it’s not a type of exercise, it’s important to remember the role that rest and recovery play in a balanced fitness routine. It’s true that by completing a hybrid workout you put less stress and pressure on body than simply focusing on one area all the time, but your body still needs time to rejuvenate. It’s recommended that you incorporate at least one rest day into every week, while also ensuring your complimenting your hard work in the gym or pool with replenishing nutrition and plenty of sleep. However, you don’t just have to sit around all day if you are having your rest day, you can also try active recovery which includes low impact exercises such as walking, swimming, cycling and so on to allow you stay fit while also gaining the benefits of rest.
Key Benefits of Hybrid Training
Builds Overall Fitness
While any type of exercise is positive, what is even better about hybrid workouts is that you are not only targeting one area but many meaning the benefits are balanced. This does mean that you might not be the fastest or strongest of all, but your overall fitness will be balanced out and for the average person having a balanced fitness level is what you need rather than a single focus on one area such as an athlete.
Prevents Injury
Relating to the above point of using all your body is that you’re risk of injury reduces greatly by performing a hybrid workout which uses all areas of the body rather than putting lots of stress on one. Spreading the load means you are less likely to overwork particular muscles as you rest some from time to time and makes injuries far less likely.
Adjustable
As mentioned at the top, one of the most appealing elements of hybrid training is how it can be catered to your needs, whether that’s the disciplines you want to include, the exercises included, the split between disciplines, the tempo, etc. This also makes hybrid training perfect for people of all levels of fitness as you can adjust your sessions for your specific needs and advance or change as you progress.
Time Efficiency
Another key benefit of hybrid training is how the focus on different disciplines means you can use your time more effectively as you gain the benefits of several different workouts without necessarily spending more time doing separate workouts for each specific area. Blending your workouts can also mean less time being spent between reps, etc, saving even a little time during a busy schedule.
Our Hybrid Wrap Up
There you have it our quick breakdown of hybrid workouts and their benefits. Hybrid workouts are a combination of strength, cardio, flexibility and mobility exercises that can be divided into specific days for each discipline or a mixture of them during a single session, with rest also being key. What’s brilliant about hybrid workouts is that you are less prone to over work certain areas of the body due to the variance of your workout and you have full control over what your workout structure is. Overall, hybrid workouts might not be for everyone, but it’s easy to understand the hype around them as they provide a full, balanced workout for your body, while removing some of the pressure and stress placed on individual body parts during other more focused workouts.
How Aura Leisure Can Help
At Aura Leisure, we have all you need to reach your fitness potential whether you choose a hybrid workout or not. Our state-of-the-art gyms are packed with all types of equipment varying from strength to cardio to functional and beyond, while our range of fitness classes means you can switch up your sessions every day of the week. We also have incredible pools to put your full body to work or relax in during your rest days. Even better still our members get access to all of this, plus our personalised fitness programmes, advanced InBody as well as InGrip technology, and much more at no extra cost.