Thinking about joining Fitness Workz? Don’t let unfamiliar gym lingo hold you back. Get started with confidence by mastering these gym terms.
Working out at a gym offers numerous benefits, from structured workout programmes and expert guidance to staying motivated and meeting new people. At HomeTeamNS’ Fitness Workz gyms, you’ll find a welcoming, beginner-friendly environment where you can work out at your own pace, access a range of equipment, and get the support you need.
While your first visit may feel a bit daunting, familiarising yourself with the following key fitness terms will help make your experience smooth and enjoyable.
ACTIVE REST
What It Means: Performing low-intensity exercises between more intense workouts. For example, walking or doing light stretching between strength sets.
Why It Matters: Active rest helps keep your heart rate up without overexertion. It maximises workout efficiency by turning rest periods into productive, active recovery.
AEROBIC EXERCISE
What It Means: Exercises, like running or swimming, that increase your heart rate and improve your body’s ability to use oxygen efficiently.
Why It Matters: Aerobic activities strengthen your cardiovascular system and build endurance, allowing you to perform longer, sustained activities such as distance running, cycling, or swimming.
AMRAP (AS MANY REPS AS POSSIBLE)
What It Means: Performing as many repetitions of a specific exercise as possible within a set time limit. For instance, completing as many push-ups as you can in 1 minute.
Why It Matters: AMRAP workouts push your endurance, motivating you to reach your physical limits. It’s a great method for tracking progress, increasing intensity, and challenging yourself each session.
ANAEROBIC EXERCISE
What It Means: Exercises, like sprinting or heavy weightlifting, that involve short bursts of high-intensity effort where the body relies on stored muscle energy rather than oxygen.
Why It Matters: Anaerobic training builds muscle strength, power, and enhances performance in activities requiring explosive movements.
CIRCUIT TRAINING
What It Means: Performing a sequence of exercises, such as squats, push-ups, and lunges, one after the other with minimal rest between each movement.
Why It Matters: This training method combines strength and cardio, delivering a full-body workout in a short time while keeping your heart rate elevated.
COMPOUND MOVEMENTS
What It Means: Exercises that work multiple muscle groups at once. For instance, a deadlift or squat engages your legs, back, and core simultaneously.
Why It Matters: Compound movements are efficient for building strength across multiple areas of the body, improving coordination, and mimicking real-life functional movements.
DOMS (DELAYED ONSET MUSCLE SORENESS)
What It Means: Muscle soreness that occurs 24 to 72 hours after intense exercise. For instance, you may feel soreness in your arms after a challenging upper body workout.
Why It Matters: DOMS is a normal part of the recovery process and indicates that your muscles are repairing and getting stronger. Understanding DOMS helps you manage recovery, allowing you to plan rest days and ensure proper muscle repair.
Did you know?
Fitness Workz operates in every HomeTeamNS clubhouse — HomeTeamNS-JOM Balestier, HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir, HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok, and HomeTeamNS Khatib.
FORM
What It Means: Refers to the proper technique and posture during an exercise. For example, during a squat, your knees should not extend past your toes.
Why It Matters: Correct form prevents injuries and ensures you’re targeting the intended muscle group. Poor form can reduce the effectiveness of your workout and lead to strain or injury.
FUNCTIONAL TRAINING
What It Means: Includes exercises that mirror everyday movements like squatting, bending, or lifting. For instance, kettlebell swings simulate picking up a heavy object.
Why It Matters: This type of training enhances your ability to perform daily tasks, improves overall balance and coordination, and helps prevent injuries by strengthening muscles needed for real-life activities.
HIIT (HIGH-INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING)
What It Means: Involves alternating between short bursts of intense exercise, like sprinting for 30 seconds, and periods of lower intensity or rest, such as walking for 1 minute.
Why It Matters: HIIT is an efficient way to improve cardiovascular health, burn fat, and boost metabolism. By keeping your heart rate elevated throughout the session, it maximises calorie burn in a shorter amount of time compared to traditional steady-state exercises.
INTERVALS
What It Means: Intervals involve alternating between periods of high-intensity activity, such as sprinting, and lower-intensity recovery, like walking.
Why It Matters: Interval training boosts cardiovascular endurance, promotes fat-burning, and keeps workouts varied and engaging.
REP (REPETITION)
What It Means: One complete movement of an exercise. For example, one rep of a bicep curl is lifting the weight up and then lowering it down.
Why It Matters: Reps help you track how many times you perform an exercise, making it easier to measure progress and ensure you’re working the right muscle groups.
SET
What It Means: A group of repetitions performed consecutively. For example, 10 squats in a row make up one set.
Why It Matters: Sets structure your workout, allowing you to build strength and endurance progressively. They also help you stay organised and track your progress more effectively.
SPOTTER
What It Means: Someone who assists you during exercises, particularly when lifting heavy weights.
Why It Matters: Spotters help prevent accidents, allowing you to push yourself safely, especially during heavy lifts or personal best attempts.
SUPERSET
What It Means: Involves performing two exercises back-to-back without rest. For example, after completing a set of bicep curls, you immediately follow it with a set of tricep dips.
Why It Matters: Supersets increase workout intensity, save time, and push your muscles to work harder by minimising rest.
WORKOUT TOGETHER, SAVE TOGETHER!
Teens and spouses of Fitness Workz members get $100 OFF on Fitness Workz membership
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