We live in a high intensity world. We work, socialise and sleep hard and fast, and our exercise routines are no different. It's no surprise workouts like HIIT and SIT have become so popular in recent years, getting us in and out of the gym in record time while packing in health benefits. But perhaps in direct response to that, low-intensity strength training has become all the rage recently, with searches on Google up by over 5000%.
The shift towards low-intensity strength work is no bad thing, by the way. It can lead to significant muscular hypertrophy and strength enhancements, according to a Journal of Applied Physiology study. A further 2024 paper from Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews also shows low intensity workouts can reduce the risk of depression by 23% and anxiety by 26%.
