Tabata Workouts

There are so many workouts to choose from and they all seem to get shorter and more intense. The latest in this craze is Tabata Training. Purportedly practiced by the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, this workout is a highly intense, four-minute juggernaut.

What is it? Not surprisingly, the workout was created by Dr. Tabata. While working at the University of Tokyo, Dr. Tabata tested the fitness results of different groups of participants, varying the length and intensity of their workouts. What he found was performing any exercise for four minutes is the optimal period of time for producing the best aerobic and anerobic results.

Where do you begin? The rhythm of the workout requires you to perform an exercise as hard as possible for 20 seconds, rest for 10 seconds and repeat eight rounds within four minutes. You may think this sounds simple, but after attempting to do burpees this way, you will never be the same again.

Now that you understand the basic building block of the Tabata workout, you can digest the information that various exercises can be pieced together into 30-minute workouts. This is not for the faint of heart or for anyone who does not exercise regularly. High-intensity workouts make it much more likely you will be injured badly and early if you do not proceed with caution. Check out some routines online and start slow.