We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!
Is it just me, or do gym classes seem to be getting shorter and more efficient all the time? Sure, there's still the occasional 90-minute yoga class, but fitness clubs these days know that we're in a rush — and thanks to the science of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), they've got ways to get us real results in less time than ever.
Take the new New Zealand-based Les Mills Grit Series, rolling out at gyms around the country this month: It calls itself "the most intense 30 minutes your body will ever experience," and I have to say they could be right. Check out their video promo above to see what I mean!
Grit Series classes focus on cardio, strength training, and plyometrics — those explosive power moves like high-knee jumps and burpees. There are three versions of the class, each one focusing on one aspect a little more than the others (I sampled the Cardio class, and the Strength class is highlighted above), but every session does make sure to incorporate all three pillars. My instructor, the adorably-accented Les Mills, Jr. himself, explained that we'd be doing bursts of 110% effort, followed by short periods of rest and recovery — hence the "high-intensity" and "intervals" parts of HIIT.
