Tabata interval training is the single most effective type of high intensity interval training, it's also the most intense by far, and surprisingly it's the shortest in duration: only lasts for four minutes... but those four minutes produce remarkable effects. According to the Japanese founder, Professor Izumi Tabata, one of his four-minute sessions is equal to an hour of jogging, an hour of moderate cycling, two hours of walking, an hour of Zumba or two hours of yoga. What’s not to like? Quite a lot, actually. The idea is to increase your heart rate to its maximum by “going completely mental” for 240 seconds. This is supposed to give you both aerobic and anaerobic benefits (both cardio and muscle workout). But we’re talking about four minutes of pain.
The full Tabata program is four minutes long. It will probably be the longest four minutes of your life. If you are going to try it, we would recommend going light with the weights until you find your range, there’s a good chance you will underestimate this workout and be begging people around you to help you off the floor. Tabata intervals follow this structure: