Pilates Workouts High Intensity Intervals With Pilates Cross Training By Marguerite Ogle MS, RYT Marguerite Ogle MS, RYT LinkedIn Marguerite Ogle is a freelance writer and experienced natural wellness and life coach, who has been teaching Pilates for more than 35 years. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 10, 2021 Reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by nutrition and exercise professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Kristin McGee, CPT Reviewed by Kristin McGee, CPT Kristin McGee is a certified personal trainer and currently teaches yoga and meditation for Peloton. She is also certified in Pilates and by the National Association of Sports Medicine. Learn about our Review Board Print Hero Images/Getty Images Should you combine Pilates and high-intensity interval training? Interval training is cardio fitness training in which bursts of high-intensity effort alternate with low-intensity movement. In contrast, Pilates emphasizes strength and flexibility. What makes interval training a nice cross-training option with Pilates is that interval training provides a great aerobic workout. It also does it fast—in as little as twenty minutes. Interval training is one of the quickest ways to build aerobic capacity and overall endurance. Studies show that interval training can be safe for many age groups and levels of fitness. Fat Burning and Weight Loss With Interval Training You'll burn more calories in short, high-intensity exercise, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. And some studies have shown that interval training has a metabolic effect on the body that makes it better at fat burning than the regular aerobic exercise of longer duration. That's good news for those of us for whom weight control and weight loss are fitness goals. How Interval Training Works Short bursts of high-intensity exercise demand so much oxygen that the muscles run out. Muscles need oxygen to break down lactic acid. When lactic acid builds up, the heart and lungs have to work extra hard to repay this oxygen "debt" in the recovery phase of the workout. How to Do Interval Training One of the best ways to get started is to use an approach called fartlek, where you measure the intensity of the exercise by your perceived level of exertion. As you become more comfortable with the process you might move into a program where your bursts and rests are more scientifically planned and based on criteria such as target heart rates and anaerobic threshold levels. Interval training at this level is often referred to as High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Beginner Interval Training Choose an activity where you can easily move between bursts of high-intensity activity and moderate recovery phases. Treadmill, spinning, and walking/speed walking are examples of popular interval training activities. Do remember that safety is a concern so you don't want to move into a burst of high intensity doing something complicated. Warm up first. Start your interval workout with a few minutes of exercise at a moderate pace. Do a 30-second burst of intensity at 85 percent of what you perceive to be your maximum output. Return to a moderate pace for approximately two minutes. Do another 30-second burst of high intensity. Continue to alternate burst and recovery phases for 15 to 20 minutes. (interval training has been shown to be effective in as little time as 15 minutes) As you build endurance and familiarity with the process, you can increase the length of your bursts up to 1 minute. Using Cross Training With Pilates and Interval Training Pilates is not generally considered aerobic training though it can be done in a cardio enhancing way. It is tempting to think that one could do a little Pilates, launch into a burst of high-intensity exercise, and then go back to Pilates. But that is not a realistic plan. Many people have reported dizziness when they tried it. In any case, moving from vertical to horizontal and back while the heart is pumping at a high rate is not recommended. Pilates is body/mind/spirit integrative exercise, with many benefits, and it takes a tremendous amount of focus to practice it properly. There is no need to combine Pilates into the same workout with interval training. But you can do them in sequence or in two separate workouts on the same day If you choose to do Pilates after interval training, be sure your heart rate has recovered close to normal resting rate before beginning your Pilates workout. Will Pilates Help You Lose Weight? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get exercise tips to make your workouts less work and more fun. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 0 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Short Burst Training - IDEA Health and Fitness Association Hoyt, Trey. Skeletal muscle benefits of endurance training: mitochondrial adaptations. American Medical Athletic Association Journal, Fall 2009.