I spend a lot of my time answering questions from members. One of the questions I hear most frequently has to do with exercise frequency. In other words, how many times a week should you exercise?
As you might expect, there’s no one answer that fits everybody. A person who has already achieved a high fitness level, or someone who’s training for an event, might work out six or seven days a week at high intensity. Someone who’s just starting out will need to build up to that level.
Let’s start with what health professionals recommend. The most common recommendation is for a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate activity per day. Now, that activity doesn’t need to take place in a fitness class. On a day when you don’t have a class, you could go for a brisk walk or take a swim in your pool.
There is evidence to suggest that getting as much as 300 minutes of exercise per week — that would be 60 minutes per day five days a week – can greatly decrease the risk of heart disease. Don’t let that intimidate you. Any exercise is better than no exercise!
My suggestion for people who are just starting their fitness journey is to start with 2-3 classes per week and to get some moderate activity on their off days. If you want to, you can increase your class participation from there. We even have some students who take back-to-back classes!
If you are the type of person who wants to work out every day here is what I suggest. Mix up your workouts! Create a schedule where you are mixing in strength and conditioning, cardio, and stretching/yoga. Don’t forget to add in a rest day every once in a while
I should point out that if you have physical limitations due to an injury or medical diagnosis, you should always talk to your doctor before starting a new fitness regimen. Your doctor’s advice is far more important than mine. In the absence of any such limitations, I’m happy to help you devise a weekly schedule that works for you.