MAKE YOUR TRAINING LIT

To ensure reliable results in 2019, slow down your workouts with the latest trending training protocol

01_ WHERE DO I START?

Spearheaded by modish London boutiques such as Blok, FLY LDN and Equinox, low-intensity training (LIT) is making its way to your local gym’s schedule. With its focus on multi-joint bodyweight exercises, LIT can also be an ideal home workout. Clear a space in your living room and prepare to tax your muscles.

02_ WHO’S IT FOR?

Trainers at both ends of the fitness scale are served by this slow’n’steady trend. “LIT works your muscles hard, but doesn’t hammer your joints,” says FLY LDN coach Kat Suchet. It’s both a sensible intro to fitness and a smart recovery protocol that won’t leave you sofa-bound tomorrow.

03_ WILL IT GET ME RIPPED?

No. LIT is the antidote to get-rippedquick ventures. Its cousin HIIT earns results, but can also break your body, hindering fat loss. Instead, LIT revives your tired muscles. You also focus on “conscious movement”, mentally zoning in on each rep to clear away anxieties. “LIT is the best remedy for a high-stress lifestyle,” says Suchet.

04_ DO I NEED ANY SPECIAL KIT?

“A good pair of flat-sole shoes will ensure you feel grounded during the slow moves,” says Suchet. Vivobarefoot Primus Lite trainers (£100 vivobarefoot.com) will do the trick. For at-home training, investing in a TRX system (£130 amazon.co.uk, right) will expand the range of bodyweight moves in your arsenal.

TREND SECRETS LOW-INTENSITY TRAINING

05_

IS THERE A SIGNATURE MOVE TO MASTER?

The Turkish get-up. It fires every muscle in your body, yet forces you to work slowly and focus on form. You’ll sweat without ever getting out of breath (that’s the point). Lying on the floor, press a dumbbell overhead with one hand. Watch the weight as you roll onto your free elbow, sit up, drive through your hips and come to a half-kneel. Stand tall, then reverse the move.

06_ WHAT SHOULD I AVOID?

Treating it like a “workout”. If you’re after yoga’s mindand-body benefits without the incense, then this trend is for you. Just don’t expect all the grunting, expletives and dumbbell-dropping you’re used to in your standard class to be met with the same enthusiasm.