Period It!

Oh my! It is surprising that the topic of periodization has not been talked about on here over the past eight years. Oops! Sorry about that. Well, here is a first: why is periodization so important to your workout and to to exercise, in general? There are many answers, but it gets good results, controls training levels, and teaches your body that it does not have to do the same thing all of the time.

Good Results
The term 'periodization' or 'periodizing your workout' is mostly used in the athlete world. But, if you are exercising year round, then you will need it as well. It can be easily defined as changing up your workout. Yes, but my body likes what I do - bet your body is totally accustomed to the typical workout that you have been doing...it is time to move on.

Controls Training Levels
Intensity is a large part of the exercise game. Start with an athlete's regimen. A football player will do very functional training right now, in the middle of his/her season (an ice hockey player will begin to work on his/her weaknesses at this point of the off-season). Most people know that football players lift a lot of weight, so it can be assumed that they lift a lot of weight all of the time. Deal. The deal-breaker suggests that once the season ends there is a rest period in working out at the in-season pace. When workouts begin again in the off-season, weights are included - it is a prime time to emphasize bulking up or working on weaknesses. But, there is an adequate amount of sprinting and agility work accomplished in the off-season - it is not all about lifting.

Then, there is another break in the off-season.

Camp begins. Intensity levels rise. The goal of this period shifts again. 

Teaches Your Body
Intensity is a large part of the exercise game. If you exercise at a high intensity all of the time, then you can damage your muscles, and joints. If you exercise at a low intensity all of the time, then you are not putting your body through the necessary intensity levels that it can actually endure.

Cue in the rest of the population. There are many walkers and runners out here. Walking and running are great activities. In order to improve either one, it is good to do strength training versus the thought process: in order to improve either one, just keep walking or running. Even if you only walk or run to improve walking or running, then you can at least walk or run at different intensities during the course of a year.

For example: January to March = walk/run 12 miles every week. April to June =walk/run 15 miles per week. July to September = walk/run 12 miles per week at a faster pace than from January to March. October to December = walk/run 8 miles per week at a more intense pace. Again...only an example.

There are various ways to approach talking about this topic. Leaving it here for now!

With heart,
Derek

Derek Arledge, MS, CSCS       www.teempt.com       TEEM Performance Training