Interval training is one of our favourite ways to train at Fitmama Strong Ottawa. We prefer to use timed sets vs. counting out reps or sets. Read on to find out why!

It’s ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL

From the fitness newbies to our lifelong athletes, timed intervals help our members work at their own pace without the pressure to keep up with the instructor or their neighbour. We always encourage our newest members to take their time and to take additional rest periods. We can (and do!) challenge our regular members to maintain a specific pace or keep moving for the entire work period so that they keep improving their fitness levels. We love seeing our members challenge themselves!

KEEPS US MOVING

The flow of a timed interval based class helps the class flow and keeps everyone engaged for the entire time. When you have littles, we want to help you make every minute count! We have members at many different stages of fitness and recovery from having a baby, so timed intervals allows us to meet our members where they’re at and allows our members to work at the pace that is best for them, without ever feeling like they’re falling behind.

KEEPS YOUR HEART RATE ELEVATED

We love to prioritize compound exercises (when you pair an upper body exercise with a lower body exercise or when you perform a movement that utilizes multiple muscle groups at once). This type of movement is super effective at challenging the heart rate and perfect for those that don’t LOVE cardio!

MAKES EXERCISE MORE FUN

Guess what? If the workout is fun you’re more likely to stick with it (even when it’s hard!). The variety of interval based classes are the secret sauce to a fun workout. There is definitely a time and place for heavier weights and focused reps, but one of our goals is to support our members to build a consistent and lifelong relationship with exercise and we have found that this is a fantastic way to do that! Have you ever done a tabata class and wondered how the class went by so quickly? Our members love a tabata class to get their heart pumping and also to pass the time quickly.

BUILDS STRENGTH & ENDURANCE

Steady state exercise is fantastic for your cardiovascular system (think walking, hiking, biking, swimming… all activities you would do for a longer period of time). These types of exercises are super helpful for supporting recovery, are joint friendly and beginner friendly. We definitely love them but… we also know that timed intervals can help you reach your fitness goals a little more quickly. People who participate in interval training (both high and low intensity) may see greater improvements in their body’s ability to adapt to the demands of exercise. For example: you might see a higher tolerance for the build up of lactate, meaning you can work for longer periods before you fatigue.

Finally, we love timed intervals because they are a simple, but highly effective way to get a full body workout in. Most importantly, they keep your trainers honest so you don’t have to worry about us losing count 😂🤣!

What do you think about timed intervals! Love ‘em or hate ‘em? Share with us!

Interested in joining us? Our classes are a great way to meet other new parents. Fitmama Strong Ottawa has been operating classes in the National Capital Region since 2005. Our community is a thriving and welcoming space for you and your littles.

We offer Prenatal Fitness classes, live from our virtual studio. Our 30 minute live, online Express classes our our On-Demand library of pre-recorded workouts are a favourite for busy mamas who enjoy consistency in their workout regime. Finally, we offer in-person Stroller Fitness and Babywearing Fitness in a central location. We can’t wait to have you join us!

We can’t wait for you to #startwithus and #growwithus (Formerly FITMOM Ottawa).