It’s time to shake off the winter doldrums and embrace the boost of energy every Canadian feels as winter gives way to spring. It’s been a long few months, but it’s time to say goodbye to the Netflix vibe and hello to spring training. Put down the remote and get moving.
If you’re worried that 20 minutes isn’t enough time to whip yourself into better shape, think again. Small exercise bites are all the rage, with plenty of studies highlighting the benefits of short, peppy workouts. Get your sweat on at lunch, before the kids get up in the morning or shake off the stress of a long day with an after-dinner workout. And since the days are getting longer, there’s more time at both ends of the day for a quick 20-minute exercise bite.
Now for the housekeeping. The intervals are timed, so it’s helpful to use an app or smartwatch that tracks your speed, distance and time. Another bonus of a good app is reviewing your stats post-workout to track your progress. You should feel a distinct difference between easy, moderate and fast-paced intervals. These aren’t steady state workouts. Your hard-paced efforts should take you out of your comfort zone and your recovery should bring your heart rate down and slow your breathing. The idea is to recover enough that you can maintain your intensity through all the fast-paced intervals.