Workouts for tender knees? A fitness trainer suggests a low-impact High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) routine to boost your heart rate
Cindy Yu, a popular fitness influencer, has introduced a unique low-impact High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workout that caters to individuals with past or current injuries. This workout, different from the usual squat jumps and burpees, offers a refreshing change and is suitable for both beginners and experts.
The routine consists of eight dance-influenced exercises, each lasting for 30 seconds, followed by a 10-second rest. The exercises include the Double-step touch knee lift, Side-lunge touch down, Rocking horse, Sumo squat heel lift, Double-step touch ham curl, Side-tap front-tap, Alternating lateral step curtsey lunge, and the alternating high knee punches or step-back bicep curls as alternatives to jumping cardio.
Fans of Zumba and Jazzercise will find this workout particularly enjoyable due to its rhythmic nature. However, it's important to note that the exercises require some coordination, making the workout fun but challenging.
For those dealing with injuries, Cindy Yu's modifications prioritize joint-friendly movements, light weights, no jumping, and appropriate rest to ensure a safe and effective workout. The workout intervals are set at 30-40 seconds active with short rests, repeated in rounds with 1-minute rest between rounds to allow recovery.
Moreover, exercises often combine upper and lower body movements, controlled and low-impact, like the high knee shoulder press or stepping back rather than jumping. The emphasis is on range of motion and controlled tempo to avoid aggravating injuries and maintain form.
Gentle stretching like kneeling quad and hip flexor stretches can also be incorporated to improve mobility without strain. It's advisable to slow down the tempo of the exercises if the instructor's speed feels too challenging.
It's essential to remember that while the low-impact HIIT workout is suitable for most, caution should be taken if dealing with current or past injuries. As long as the user works for the allotted time, they are doing the workout correctly. The workout is structured in a circuit, and the user is required to complete the circuit of eight exercises six to eight times.
Interestingly, the low-impact HIIT routine reminded the user of old-school step aerobics. Adding a favourite playlist to the routine made the time fly by and the workout more enjoyable. Doing the workout led to a surprising average heart rate for the user, demonstrating its effectiveness.
In conclusion, Cindy Yu's low-impact HIIT workout offers a joint-friendly approach to fitness, making it an excellent choice for those recovering from injuries or looking for a change from the usual high-impact workouts.
- Cindy Yu's low-impact HIIT workout, with its dance-influenced exercises and emphasis on joint-friendly movements, is an ideal fitness solution for individuals looking for a change from traditional high-impact workouts.
- The fitness-and-exercise routine, created by Cindy Yu, incorporates science-backed High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) principles alongside cardio exercises, catering to health-and-wellness enthusiasts who prefer controlled, low-impact moves over high-impact ones.
- By combining elements from the world of fitness-and-exercise, such as Zumba, Jazzercise, and step aerobics, Cindy Yu's low-impact HIIT workout aims to provide a refreshing and enjoyable workout experience that prioritizes fitness, health-and-wellness, and fun.