Sample Class: Structured Intervals

Interval workouts are popular, easy to teach and challenging for students at various fitness levels. When you build a reliable structure into your intervals, participants are better able to manage their energy output, which optimizes effectiveness and results.

With structured intervals, you set up specific rest and work times in advance so that students know what to expect. Knowing the work period is only 20 seconds long, for example, allows participants to challenge themselves at a very high level in anticipation of an immediate recovery.

Tabata intervals (named for Japanese researcher Izumi Tabata) are a great example of structured intervals. Tabata training includes a 20-second high-intensity anaerobic work interval followed by a 10-second rest, repeated eight times in a row. In a creative twist on Tabata, this sample workout alternates moderate-intensity intervals with higher-intensity bouts of the same exercise. Three intensity options allow people of different fitness levels to start at different points, while still having a way to progress the pattern. For example, beginners may start at level 1 as their “moderate” intensity and progress to level 2 as their “high” intensity, while fitter participants may start at level 2 and progress to level 3. Students perform the exercises at a fast pace, doing as many repetitions as possible while maintaining proper body alignment and full range of motion. Participants rest briefly (10–20 seconds) between work intervals and repeat each work-rest cycle twice per exercise.

Format: Interval workout structured as follows:

• 30 seconds’ work at moderate intensity (level 1 or 2, depending on fitness level)
• 10 seconds’ rest
• 20 seconds’ work at high intensity (level 2 or 3)
• 20 seconds’ rest

Pattern immediately repeats with same exercises before next interval begins.

Total Time: Each exercise takes 2 minutes 40 seconds. Sixty-minute class incorporates 10–12 exercises. Upper-body, lower-body and cardio intervals should be balanced for complete workout.

Equipment: Resistance tube or other object for jumping over, and step. Other equipment and exercises can easily be incorporated into this structure.

Music: Any high-energy music as background.

An extended warm-up is needed to prepare for a high-intensity interval workout. The warm-up not only helps prevent injury during vigorous exertion; it also allows participants to push themselves to a higher level. Use simple, athletic movements and gradually increase the intensity. Here are some ideas:

• Start with 50 jumping jacks; engage transversus abdominis and keep shoulders depressed.
• Progress to 25 mountain climbers, which are great for engaging core musculature.
• Do 10 pairs of walking lunges to get blood flowing to large leg muscles.
• Finally, perform high-knee jog, moving laterally to right (R) for five steps. Pause on step five with knee held high, chest open and abdominals engaged. Then do same pattern, moving left (L). Steps should be quick, powerful and athletic. Continue for approximately 1 minute.
• Repeat entire warm-up sequence twice before beginning intervals.

The sample exercises listed below take approximately 20 minutes to complete, including transition time. Apply the structure to your own creative exercises to lengthen the workout time. See “Format” above for direction.

Sample Exercise 1: Lower Body/Cardio

Equipment. None.

Level 1. Perform side-to-side squats. Step L foot out to L, slightly wider than hip width. Perform full squat. During upward phase, bring L foot back in and place it on floor beside R foot. Repeat squat, stepping out to R side with R foot.

Level 2. Add hop between squats as you switch legs.

Level 3. Touch floor during squat, and add hop between squats as you switch legs.

Sample Exercise 2: Lower Body/Cardio

Equipment. Step with two sets of risers (or one or three sets of risers, to adjust intensity).

Level 1. Do continuous repeater knees. With step on R side, place R foot on top and raise and lower body weight by flexing and extending through R ankle, knee and hip joints. Keep R heel pressed down onto board, and keep knee safely behind toes. Each time you lower yourself, gently tap floor behind you with L toe, keeping most of body weight on R leg.

Level 2. Add hop every other time you extend R leg, landing and lowering with control on same leg (hop, no hop, hop, no hop).

Level 3. Add hop on every leg extension.

Repeat this sequence on L leg.

Sample Exercise 3:Upper Body

Equipment. None.

Level 1. Do push-ups on knees.

Level 2. Do push-ups on toes. Between each push-up, perform a “jack” by jumping feet out and in.

Level 3: Do continuous push-ups on toes.

Sample Exercise 4: Upper Body

Equipment. Dumbbells and weighted bar (for advanced participants).

Level 1. Perform overhead press with moderate weights (8–12 pounds).

Level 2. Do overhead press with heavy weights (10–15 pounds).

Level 3. Do modified push-press with weighted bar (12–25 pounds). Weight should be too heavy for students to perform regular overhead press at this level of fatigue. Instead, use legs to assist in elevating weight. Arms work in stronger, eccentric phase to lower weight back to shoulder height. (To watch a video of this exercise, go to www.nsca-lift.org/videos/PushPress/defaultpushpress.shtml.)

Sample Exercise 5: Cardio

Equipment. Exercise tube or other low hurdle. Place tube in straight line on floor beside you.

Level 1. Do lateral single-leg leaps over tube.

Level 2. Perform two-footed lateral jump over tube, fast pace.

Level 3. Do lateral tuck-jumps or squat-jumps over tube.

Instruct students to walk around the room and drink water as their heart rate gradually decreases. Transition them into core work by applying the class structure to their abdominal exercises. Choose exercises with three clear intensity levels, and maintain the interval structure throughout.

Structured intervals are a fun way to challenge students and motivate them to push beyond their comfort zones. Providing various intensity levels creates an intelligent and effective workout that allows everyone to be optimally challenged and successful—a true recipe for success.

Interval workouts are designed to be intense. The intensity should be such that participants can’t maintain the effort longer than the length of the interval. Offer options at various levels so that everyone is appropriately challenged.