Cross Training Equals Full Body Results

I'll say it straight up: You cannot do only one type of exercise and expect full body results!

Running without weights and stretching = injury and a "stringy physique"
Weights without cardio and stretching = Poor cardiovascular fitness and injury
Yoga without strength training and cardio = Injury capacity and a waify body.

Cross training is important for three main reasons:

1. Works the whole body

Like my examples above, you need to engage in multiple exercises to develop an all around great physique. Cardio trims fat and improves the heart, stretching elongates muscles and prevents injury, weight lifting builds strength, tones, and shapes muscles. Cardiovascular conditioning, strength training and flexibility are the three main components of fitness. Agility and balance are secondary, and are achieved as a byproduct of the main three.

2. It Rests the body

If you run every other day, strength train on 2 off days and do yoga on another off day you are giving your body a chance to recuperate and come back stronger when the cycle starts again the next week. Same goes for any primary exercise in your routine. Weight lifting requires 48 hours rest and cardio, 24. Active recovery is when you rest by working out something different. You don't need to take every other day off, but you need to add variety to your fitness program.

3. It will make you a better athlete

If you are regularly participating in various forms of exercise you will get better, and learn faster at doing anything physical. With multi-faceted training regimen you will improve coordination, balance, agility, speed, endurance, power and all desirable results of physical conditioning.

You can even cross train within your primary interests:

If you love to run alternate runs with cardio cross training on the Stair Master, elliptical trainer, and cycling.
If you love weight lifting alternate between straight sets, cardio circuit sets, upper/lower, super sets, and by mixing weights and reps.
For yoga try different types or have a dabble in Pilates, Tai Chi or other forms of deep stretching.
Try exercise DVDs, dancing, classes, or even switch from an indoor machine to trying the same activity outdoors.

Whatever you do, stay varied, for a strong and beautiful body

Kaleena Lawless
Personal Training Specialist
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