SHARING OUR PASSION FOR HEALTH & WELLBEING

Why circuit training works for me

Christopher O’Brien - TRIBES Coach

23 July 2025

The biggest advantage of circuit training is that it involves performing exercises with minimal rest. This is fantastic for boosting both my stamina and muscle endurance.

I primarily like circuit training because it effectively targets a multitude of muscles or muscle groups and engages different energy systems.

Compound lifts and holistic benefits
I personally like to incorporate compound lifts like squats, deadlifts, chest presses, and back rows. These movements are not only excellent for joint health and developing large muscle groups, leading to significant results, but they also build serious strength. The cardio demands of compound lifts are great for elevating my heart rate.

Combining strength and cardio is incredibly beneficial because it boosts my overall fitness and stamina at any age. Moving from station to station with minimal rest trains both my aerobic and anaerobic systems, which in turn enhances muscular endurance and cardiovascular health.

Efficiency and functional strength
I also like circuit training because it significantly enhances my functional strength. It's great for my metabolic rate and optimises my hormone response, specifically for growth hormone and testosterone. This makes it an excellent way to get lean, build muscle, and burn fat.

As a personal trainer with limited time, circuits are a godsend. They allow me to accomplish more work in less time because they combine strength and cardio simultaneously. This efficiency means I don't have to separate my strength and cardiovascular training; I can just do both together. It's a great time-saver and helps me stay consistent.

Peripheral heart training and progress tracking
I prefer doing circuits with peripheral heart training, which is amazing for promoting blood flow between the upper and lower body. This forces my heart to work more efficiently, improving my cardiac output, circulation, and overall cardiovascular conditioning.

Circuits are extremely important, especially when I periodise them from week to week. By meticulously recording the intensity, volume, and exercise selection, I can track my progress and ensure I'm not overtraining. This metric allows me to see how I perform week to week and adapt my training by tracking my weights, ensuring continuous improvement.

Ultimately, I prefer the holistic approach of circuit training because it saves me time and comprehensively improves my strength, stamina, cardio, overall health, and fitness.