How Much Exercise Do You Need?

Written by Hannah Gonzalez, Social Media Specialist, Midtown Athletic Clubs

When considering how much exercise someone requires, there’s no one answer, unfortunately. Everyone has goals, journeys, and even limitations exclusive to them; as a result, we shouldn’t ask “how much exercise do I need?” but instead “what type of exercise do I need and why?”  

HIIT 

If you’re exercising to burn calories it’s recommended to give high-intensity interval training a try. With many heart and body benefits, this short but intense workout with bouts of exercise followed by rest then repeated, will promote EPOC (excess post oxygen consumption) in your routine. HIIT can be performed through any exercise whether that be on a bike, with burpees, or any movement that works best for you. While your workout may only be 10 minutes, the calorie-burning benefits can last for hours.

Cycling 

For those interested in building joint health, stamina, and increased immunity, it’s recommended to hop on a bike in a cycling class. Not only is taking a trip on a stationary bike going to benefit the movement of your muscles, but there are typically fun and upbeat tunes attached to the workout that makes you forget you’re exercising at all. Three rides on a bike a week will create healthy habits to help in achieving your goal.   

Yoga 

If you’re on a journey of destressing, finding balance, and building core and upper-body strength, grab your mat and step into a yoga class. Through the usage of meditation and poses to strengthen your posture, there are a number of yoga classes designed to deliver benefits you won’t find with a fast-paced exercise. Everyone’s practice is different; while some prefer to do yoga daily or even monthly, beginners can start with only one hour a week to experience minimal benefits.