cardio workouts
How do you explain to clients that they can get a cardio workout without a treadmill or elliptical? What would be a sample workout you would give a client who says they just dojt feel like theyre getting enough of a workout without doing cardio machines? Clients that dont have a gym membership or time to walk outside when its cold or raining.
Melissa,
To try and explain why a client can get a cardio workout on a machine can be tricky. It may require some defining, which is just boring for everyone. Knowing why they don’t think they can get a workout is a better question to ask. It may be a simple dislike. If that is the case, it is our job to find modes that they do like. If you needed to explain to them the “why” factor, I would tell them that any aerobic exercise is defined by prolonged, regular, repeated muscle action. Ellipticals, bikes, treadmills, etc., all do this.
My suggestion is HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). This is a research-backed method to 1) provide a challenge, 2) eliminate monotony, and 3) significantly improve cardiovascular and metabolic function. If they will try the machines for this, it is very easy to monitor and control. If they will not do machines, (or like you said, don’t have access to them) this can also be done by regular running and/or biking. They would just need a running watch.
Even though the name sounds intimidating, research has shown it to be effective for a wide variety of clientele abilities. (It has been put into use in cardiac-rehab facilities). I use this kind of training for the “young guns” I work with, and for the elderly population as well.
Below is a link to my recent blog post on HIIT. It is a 5 minute read, and provides a sample HIIT routine. It is definitely worth a look:
http://blog.ideafit.com/blogs/anton-snyder/high-intensity-interval-train…
Good luck!
-Anton