We often use the phrase, “I don’t have time” a lot. One commodity that an average person lacks is time. Life is passing by us, time is moving too fast and often there just isn’t enough time to get everything done? There is no doubt, that this ‘fast-paced’ modern lifestyle is detrimental to fitness and health. It leaves us with little time to even eat properly, sleep, leave alone work out. We often feel pressured to find out an effective way of exercising. Hence, the rise in popularity of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Introduced in the early 2000s, HIIT has now become a popular way to exercise.

In 2018, HIIT workout classes topped the American College of Sports Medicine's list of global fitness trends. It has remained in the top five trends since then. HIIT classes are a hit among Americans and is practiced and promoted in nearly every American gym and fitness studio. Answer to prayers of time-crunched fitness enthusiasts of America, HIIT is an effective way of fitness training and with numerous health benefits.

In this article, we will trace the history and rise of a much-hyped fitness regimen, its benefits and bring you a list of seven fitness studios that are offering HIIT classes in a unique and quirky way.

Skip ahead to :

• History and rise of HIIT
• What exactly is a gym HIIT workout?
• Benefits of gym HIIT Workout
• 7 Fitness studios offering a unique gym HIIT workout

History and rise of HIIT fitness

HIIT is in hype lately! But it’s been around for a long time in different forms and versions. Gym HIIT workouts have been part of traditional workouts like that of Indian akharas or Roman gymnasiums but it was during the 1924 Olympic that it grabbed the attention of people around the globe when Paavo Nurmi, a finish athlete, used interval training in his preparations leading into the games where he won several gold medals. In the 1930’s Swedish coach Gosta Holmer came up with the Fartlek training regimen followed by Sevastian Coe who used interval training as part of his preparations in the 1970s. Many scientists came up with different ways and interpretations of HIIT fitness workouts like Tabata Method developed by Professor Izumi Tabata in 2000. Burgomaster method designed by  Kirsten Burgomaster and his team of scientists in 2005 and then the most recent Gibala Method developed by Professor Martin Gibala.

As the HIIT workout classes and regimen started gaining recognition in fitness circuits and press as an effective method of training, it grew in popularity among common Americans. In 2013, the New York Times talked about the seven-minute HIIT workout, and by 2016, the one-minute workout. HIIT  fitness became one of the intensely researched and publicized forms of fitness training. Gyms were quick to acknowledge and respond to this new trend and hired professionals to offer HIIT training and classes. Today, it’s rare to find a gym that does not offer HIIT fitness training. The rise of Boutique studios further nurtured its popularity. Studios like Barry’s Bootcamp and Orangetheory Fitness popped up in the market offering specialized training in HIIT workout classes and exploded to success. Often endorsed by celebrities, the HIIT craze is showing no signs of slowing down even today.

What exactly is a gym HIIT workout?

HIIT or High-Intensity Interval Training is an exercise protocol that is typically performed at 80 to 95 percent of maximum heart rate. According to ACSM, these workouts often mix aerobic and resistance training and last anywhere from five seconds to eight minutes. Gym HIIT workouts generally combine short bursts of intense exercise with periods of rest or lower-intensity exercise. The basic assumption is shorter the interval, the higher the intensity, and vice versa. HIIT fitness was initially used for improving cardiovascular fitness, and increasing the uptake of V02 max, and is popular as a quick, result-oriented, efficient, and effective method of exercise.

Benefits of a gym HIIT workout

Adaptable

HIIT fitness is highly adaptable. It is adaptable to a wide range of fitness levels and goals, which helps to explain why it's so popular with everyone from professional athletes to cardiac rehab patients. It can be done on cardio HIIT machines like stationary bikes, treadmills, and rowing machines, or through workouts like press-ups (bodyweight HIIT). The routine is less monotonous and studios from time to time have come up with new ways to make it more interesting for their clients.

Saves time!

If you are short on time, HIIT classes can help you stay fit and healthy without spending too much time. Many researchers have repeatedly concluded that people can burn comparable amounts of calories in HIIT workout classes lasting less than 20 minutes, compared to longer continuous exercise routines lasting 50 minutes. HIIT’s biggest selling point is its efficiency: a gym HIIT workout can last up to an hour, but it can also be completed in 20 minutes or less. Though it is advised to do HIIT under the supervision of a trainer you can also do it at home or alone using the timer. HIIT fitness hence can save you both time and money.

More health benefits

Various researches have highlighted numerous benefits of HIIT workout classes. It is one of the quickest ways of losing as weight as the studio, ‘Orangetheory’ claims, and can strengthen your heart and muscles. 2016, SIT research led by Gibala found out that HIIT fitness can successfully prevent heart disease and help in losing fat faster. Another study published in Cell Metabolism claimed that HIIT can effectively halt aging at the cellular level, by increasing the production of proteins for the mitochondria. A fitness routine is also an effective tool for elder people with diabetes and hypertension issues.

7 Fitness Studios Offering a Unique gym HIIT Workout

Variety is what makes HIIT fitness so interesting and popular. Today, a lot of cool, lighted, and glammed-up fashionable HIIT gyms and studios have come up. HIIT classes appeal more to people as it is more fun and less tedious, it is not boring or monotonous. As a studio owner, you can innovate and spice things up for your customers. Here is the list of the seven most quirky HIIT gyms from around the world.

01. Orangetheory, USA

Orangetheory is a science-backed, technology-tracked, coach-inspired group HIIT workout gym founded by exercise physiologist Ellen Latham, Jerome Kern, and David Long in March 2010. The boutique fitness studio franchise is based in Boca Raton, Florida, and offers one hour-long class in two groups, one on the treadmills and the other group working with weights or on rowers. The workouts emphasize endurance, power, or strength, or a combination of the three led by a coach.

Attendees cycle between these stations over the course of a session. Orangetheory boasts its blazing interior and guarantees maximum results to its clients. The studio is one of the most popular HIIT studios in the US.

02. Barry’s Bootcamp, USA

Barry’s Bootcamp is a HIIT gym founded first in Los Angeles and now has branches throughout the world. Barry’s classes alternate aerobic activities like running or cycling with strength training. They boast of never making their clients do the same workout twice. Each trainer is allowed to program their own gym HIIT workout. Barry is known for executing workouts in a fun and safe way. The classes are tailored to specific body parts and are nearly 45 minutes long starting with a warm-up. The red interior, music, and décor are spot on and nothing can beat the intensity of the workout at Barry’s.

Haus Athletics, Singapore

In its attractively gloomy studio, Haus Athletics is a boutique HIIT gym with a hip club feel minus the alcohol, of course. Though, its immersive training powered by the latest tunes and group moves might get you high. They have two segments within the gym – Meltdown and Leanout, while Meltdown is a great place to go for a total-body aerobic sweat session, Leanout is a great gym HIIT workout to pick up some weights to build muscles. Both will leave you sweating and out of breath by the end of the 40-minute workout.

Beat81, Germany

Beat 81 is an inclusive, committed-to-care HIIT gym that aims to make your workout interesting and fun. The studio was founded by a national badminton player Tim in 2017 at Weinbergspark, Berlin. He had developed powerful methods to maintain his fitness motivation. They were specially designed to help people repeatedly leave their comfort zone and create a fitness habit. The classes had a surprisingly powerful impact. With the aim to bring “fitness and happiness to everyone's life” the HIIT gym is one of the most popular and fun places to work out in Germany.

Dynamo, France

Over 25,000 Parisians attend Dynamo every week, with celebrities like Léa Seydoux as their regular customer, the studio is one of the best HIIT studios to get a great workout in Paris. The workout is exotic, candlelit, bilingual, and every 45-minute class has a unique soundtrack. The studio collaborates with brands like Nike, Lululemon, Kitsuné, and Colette on clothing, classes, and exclusive events. Reservations are made online and the weekly schedule goes live on Mondays at noon. The studio supplies everything you’ll need (water, towels, lockers, hair ties, Cowshed bath, and body products), apart from your workout gear.

DUT Classes, UFC, Australia

UFC GYM's signature Daily Ultimate Training (DUT®) is a high-intensity interval training boot camp designed to consistently shock your system and deliver results. The focus is on safe technique and physiological function improving your overall strength and athletic ability. Each DUT class is a unique combination of modalities guaranteeing you will be challenged to the end. The HIIT classes are very popular and especially in Japan where the brand runs its gyms.

RIB3 Cuzco, Madrid

TRIB3 Cuzco is a flagship boutique studio in the heart of Madrid. The studio is in the perfect location and offers a quick 45-minute session. With 36 spots in each class, the group is very popular among locals and offers the ultimate HIIT workout classes. The HIIT workout offers an epic sensory experience set in a stunning setting.

The craze of HIIT fitness is not dying anytime soon. For those who dislike spending hours in the gym, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is the way to go and these seven studios stand as a remarkable example of how you can experiment a little, get quirky and do something distinctive. All of these HIIT studios have made their own mark. So, even if you start small, you can make a big impact and attract business because there is a lot of space under the sun.

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