Are you familiar with the term “Cross-training”? Well, it simply means incorporating different exercises and sports into your workout routine. Not only does this train various parts of your body, but it also provides variety and keeps you motivated and excited. Of course, it’s important for you to specify the sport that you want to specialize in. However, cross-training could be an option for you to achieve a higher level of overall fitness.
Here are some of the benefits of cross training:
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- Makes room for variety: you won’t ever be bored! When you can’t do or don’t feel like doing one sport, you can do the other ones in your cross-training routine.
- Full body conditioning: instead of focusing on just one muscle group, you can target the whole body, especially ones that you rarely use or train.
- Improves flexibility and balance: no matter what sport you specialize in, your body will benefit from doing flexibility exercises like yoga and pilates. Not only does it improve balance, but it also helps your body to prevent injury.
- A positive mood: physical exercise will definitely improve your mood! Studies have shown that regular exercise leads to lower depression, less anxiety, lower emotional distress, and lower fatigue. Studies have also shown that people who do not regularly exercise risks developing depression 8 years later.
Wanna make your own cross-training routine? You can pick, choose, mix, and match from the sports below according to your interests and needs:
- Cardiovascular exercise: cycling, court sports, jumprope, running, swimming
- Strength training: calisthenics, free weights, weight machines
- Flexibility and balance training: pilates, yoga
Please note, however, you need to do research or consult with a professional when making your cross-training routine. For example, cardiovascular exercises such as aerobics can stimulate the heart better than strength training. However, mixing both cardiovascular exercises and strength training is proven to be ineffective. This shows the importance of initial research and consultation.
Cross-training can be tailored according to your personal preference and fitness needs. Exercising one sport consistently can improve your cardiovascular health, bones, muscles, etc. But by incorporating different exercises, you can do all that while also achieving a higher level of fitness and keeping things exciting.
