Circuit training with equipment: for complete workouts

How does circuit training work?

For those who are not too familiar with this term, we will tell you a little recap. And if you already know what it is, a little reminder won't hurt anyone!

THE circuit training it's a type of workout during which you do the exercises one after the other.

Between each exercise, you have the choice of to take rest or not to take it. There is two schools :

• School for those who do not choose to do not take any rest time at all 
• The school of those who take a few seconds of recovery

In general, you include between 5 and 10 exercises in your training circuit. They are quite varied in a way to to work as much as your cardio, your endurance that your muscles.

Once you have completed each exercise, you have finished a round. Because yes, the circuit training is a workout of several rounds (between 3 and 7).

You take a few seconds (or minutes) of rest before to share out with charcoal for one another round.

For the exercises, you can choose a number of repetitions (between 10 and 20 repetitions) to achieve, a bit like bodybuilding. Or you can define a working time to be held on each movement.

In addition to that, there is also several other variables that you can to modify in your training circuit:

• There total duration
• Intensity training
• THE exercises
• There workload (body weight, free weights or machines)
• THE type of recovery (passive, semi-active, active)
• With Or without material
• THE recovery time between exercises (if you take it)
• THE rest between each round

THE circuit training is also sometimes confused with HIIT. A type training where you also chain several exercises in a row. But with the HIIT, the exercises are really cardio focused.

SO, the question is HIIT or circuit training ? For now this depends on your goals and desires. Especially since both are different in terms of intensity, duration of sessions, etc.

But now that you know a little more about circuit training, we will show you what are the advantages of this type of workout.

Why train in circuit training?

It is a training method that allows you to diversify your sessions, but above all make them more fun. And this is not the only advantage to train in circuit training:

• He is fast and allows you to train even with long days
• He allows you to work the whole body and improve cardio And endurance
• He is accessible to everyone, beginner as well as confirmed
• It helps you to burn a lot of calories
• You can easily adapt it at your physical condition
• He can easily be done with equipment or without equipment
• You can do it just about anywhere
• It is playful, because you can choose from several exercises
• He allows you to achieve all objectives (fitness, etc.)
• he can do it alone or with others
• He helps a lot for physical preparation other sports

In short, there is many reasons for which you must include circuit training to your training plan. And even more with equipment if you want to vary your workouts more! 🏋🏻‍♂️

Circuit training with equipment

It's a training method which is mainly done with body weight. But it's interesting to spice up a little bit of your workout using material.

You can then either mix body weight and equipment, or do some training only with material.

And to make your circuit training spicy with equipment, you have the choice: cardio machines, guided machines, free weights, etc.

Guided and cardio machines

If you do your indoor circuit training, it's perfect because you will be able to use certain machines (guided and cardio if available).

For example, you can use:

• THE skierg
• THE rower
• The assault bike
• THE race bike
• THE treadmill
• The air runner (curved treadmill)
• THE stairs
• There leg press
• THE leg extension
• THE leg curl
• THE chest press
• THE seated row
• THE lat pull-down
• Etc.

We grant you, it is not not always practical to do indoor circuit training when some guided machines are taken. But don't panic, we have a solution for you !

And this solution is free weights ! In addition, it is even more practical to combine them with cardio machines.

Free weights

What's good about free weights is that you can either find in the room or buy some for your home gym. It is also the type of equipment most often used for the circuit training.

For example, you can use:

• A medicine ball
• A swiss ball
• Of the dumbbells
• A rod
• A kettlebell
• Of the weight plates
• A power bag

The little extra of free weights is that they are versatile. With a single free weight, could you do lots of movements. And they also allow activate several muscle groups depending on the exercises.

Oh and we can also advise you to try skipping rope and the battle rope which are very effective!

THE free weights are perfect for a good circuit training with equipment. And as they are more easy to access compared to guided machines, we have put together 4 training circuits for you with cardio machines and free weights !

4 examples of circuit training with equipment to try

1. An indoor cardio circuit training with equipment

For this circuit training you will use several cardio machines and an jumping rope. We warn you, your heart rate will rise quickly. 🥵

The exercises are as follows:

1. Knee raise
2. Rower
3. Assault bike
4. Jumping jacks
5. Burpees
6. Race bike
7. Double under
8. mountain climber
9. Skierg

2. An upper body circuit training with equipment

This workout will mainly target your shoulders, your pectorals, your arm, your abs and your back. And for that, you will need a bench, dumbbells, of a rod and a medicine ball. Oh and also a drawbar !

The exercises are as follows:

1. Bench press
2. Barbell row
3. Bicep curl (dumbbell or barbell)
4. Triceps extension (dumbbells)
5. Russian twists with medicine ball
6. Pull-ups
7. Shoulder press
8. Leaning bust bird
9. Burpees
10. Sit-ups

3. A lower body circuit training with equipment

This training will mainly target the posterior chain (hamstring and glutes), your quadriceps and your calves.

You will then need a jumping rope, dumbbells, of a rod, of a swiss ball, of a kettlebell and a box.

The exercises are as follows:

1. Squats (barbell or dumbbells)
2. Barbell deadlift
3. Kettlebell swing
4. Double under
5. Dumbbell lunges
6. Swiss ball leg curl
7. Hip thrusts (bar or dumbbell)
8. Dumbbell step-ups
9. Chair (sheathing)

4. A full body training circuit with equipment

For this example of circuit training which will target your entire body, you will need dumbbells, of a rod, of a jumping rope, of a kettlebell and a battle rope.

The exercises are as follows:

1. Shoulder press dumbbells
2. Bulgarian split squats dumbbells
3. Biceps curl (barbell or dumbbells)
4. Deadlift (barbell or dumbbells)
5. Kettlebell swing
6. Sheathing
7. Double under
8. Barbell squats
9. Dumbbell snatch
10. Battle rope

With those 4 different training circuits you should have plenty of fun ! And if you want to vary a little, feel free to change exercises.

We also have a article on circuit training exercises. If you lack inspiration for your workout, you know where to look to find other moves to include !

Conclusion

THE circuit training is a quick training method Who easily adapts to your abilities and goals. You can do your workout very well with or without equipment !

For a good circuit training with equipment, we especially advise you to use the cardio machines and the free weights. For example, you can Easily vary exercises with just a pair of dumbbells !

And if you have want to know a little more about this type of workout, we give you go to our article who talks about circuit training. 👀

Does circuit training at DRIP tempt you?

You want test the circuit training with all the equipment available ? We got you! Come and discover DRIP For 50 minutes of workout inspired by HIIT and circuit training.

THE concept Is simple : 7 bases, 3 rounds, 1 minute per base. In our 7 bases, you will find:

• Skierg
• Medicine ball
• Cardio exercises
• Dumbbell exercises
• Kettlebell exercises
• Assault bike
• Bodyweight exercises

YOU do the basics without rest For burn as many calories as possible ! All this in one crazy atmosphere thanks to our coaches and our exclusive playlists.

Our goal ? You make you want to surpass yourself in a Team spirit and in the good mood !

In addition, at DRIP, the courses are accessible to everyone. And that, whether you are a big sportsman or not.

Anyway, our coaches are here to guide you throughout your workout and for accompany you on every movement.

SO, it heats you up ? In this case, we give you meet at the studio in the 8th arrondissement of Paris next to Monceau. You will love to hate us! ❤️‍🔥