Many of us want to stay in shape as we age, but once the natural fitness of our early 20s wanes, it can be difficult to know where to begin.
But the key is knowing what types of fitness work best for your body’s capabilities at different stages of life.
Experts from Circuit Society, a London-based fitness brand, spoke to FEMAIL about the best workouts of each decade, from HIIT in your “performance” decades in your 20’s and 30’s to cycling and Pilates in your 60’s and 70’s.
“The key to maintaining a high level of fitness over a long period of time is listening to your body,” said Kris Pace of the Circuit Society. “Your body changes as you age, and so must your training.
Experts from Circuit Society, a London-based fitness brand, spoke to FEMAIL about the best workouts of each decade, from HIIT in your “performance” decades in your 20s and 30s to cycling and Pilates in your 60s and 70s (stock image )
“That doesn’t mean you can’t apply yourself the same way, it just means you have to adapt to the changes you see and feel in your body.
“Low-impact training — by taking the pressure off your joints and bones — will benefit you in both the short and long term. Your back and knees need care, whether you’re 18 or 78.’
“Research, educate yourself and take your time if you are looking for a new way of training. Keeping your routine consistent will give you long-term results, both physical and mental – and never forget the adage, “You can’t beat a bad diet.”
Here’s a look at the exercises for all ages…
If you are between 20 and 30
Types of training: HIIT, CrossFit,
Types of Exercises: Compound strength training exercises like Dumbbell Thrusters, Kettle Bell Swings, Deadlifts. Interval cardio training like treadmill sprints and boxing
For most people, these will be the “performance” decades.
Whether people train for specific sports, fitness competitions, mental well-being, or just to feel good on vacation, these years will likely be the years when we train at our highest intensity.
Some form of HIIT training would greatly benefit us during those years.
Higher intensity cardio and strength training develop strong hearts and lungs and build the muscle mass that will benefit us so much in decades to come.
If you are between 40 and 50
Training types: low-impact HIIT, structured strength training programs
Exercise types: airbike and ski erg cardio intervals.
Most people will be able to continue HIIT over these decades, but for most of us these decades will be our “conservation years” aimed at ensuring that we maintain the strength, fitness, and mobility that we have built over the past few years. maintained.
Keeping a sharp and clear mind is also a major reason people keep training during these years, especially as these are the years when you are at the sharp/crucial end of your career.
We may be looking for lower-impact cardio forms like the airbike or ski-erg that allow us to maintain the intensity of our cardio workouts without the stress of running or the like.
Strength training will remain crucial as we aim to maintain our bone density and muscle mass as we age.
The 40’s and 50’s are your “conservation years” and people will build on the results of how much exercise they get in their early years (stock image)
If you are between 60 and 70
Types of training: cycling, walking or jogging on the incline, TRX, Pilates, yoga,
Exercise Types: TRX Squats, BW Plank
We inevitably slow down as we get older, but that really doesn’t mean we should stop exercising.
How we train depends on what physical limitations, if any, we have. These are the years when we may need to adjust our training.
For most, that means a significant reduction in impact exercise and a gradual reduction in high-intensity cardio, and for most of us, that means dealing with any physical ailments or injuries we may have.
We’re probably more focused on our overall health than our performance.
TRX and sling training can help us perform exercises we may struggle with, Pilates and yoga can help us maintain our mobility and strength, and low-impact strength training will be as important as ever to build muscle – and maintain bone density.