Renowned exercise physiologists Martin Gibala and Stuart Phillips of McMaster University teach the surprising new science of cardio fitness and strength-building—and then provide you with hacks to get fit and strong (and healthy!) in less time than you ever thought possible. What’s the right mix of exercise between cardio and strength? How do you know if you’re working out hard enough? What’s better, heavy or light weights? These questions and more are addressed through a course designed to provide even the most inexperienced of exercisers the tools you need to design time-efficient workouts that can be done virtually anywhere, from your own home to a city park or even at your workplace.
Hacking Exercise For Health. The surprising new science of fitness.
Hacking Exercise For Health. The surprising new science of fitness.
Instructors: Martin Gibala
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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.7
(793 reviews)
Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
Approx. 22 hours
Learn at your own pace
97%
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What you'll learn
How to evaluate the role that physical activity plays in your health
How your cardiorespiratory fitness can be improved with aerobic training
How strength training results in strength gains and improve your health
How to formulate you own cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal exercise routine to improve your health
Skills you'll gain
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Assessments
1 assignment
Taught in English
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There are 4 modules in this course
The human body is rare in that it actually improves with use. In fact, the changes that various kinds of exercise trigger in the body are downright miraculous. This week, Marty and Stu explain the mechanics behind that process. They start by breaking down the two types of fitness: “Cardiorespiratory” and “musculoskeletal.” Next, they’ll tell you why each one is important to living a long and healthy life. With a can-do attitude designed to inspire, they’ll inform you how much of each activity you’re supposed to get, then wrap up the week by posing a question that exercise scientists have been debating for years: Which type of exercise is better for you?
What's included
5 videos5 readings1 discussion prompt2 plugins
This week Marty tells you all about cardiorespiratory fitness, and the latest research in terms of time-efficient ways to get fitter faster. Why do some scientists think that cardiorespiratory fitness should be the fifth vital sign? What is VO2max? What’s an easy way to determine your own VO2max? And how does aerobic exercise boost it? The week wraps up with Marty teaching a series of techniques to build cardiorespiratory fitness in less time than you ever thought possible.
What's included
6 videos5 readings4 discussion prompts1 plugin
Many people believe strength training isn’t for them. They might feel intimidated by lifting weights because they think it’s only for big hulking bodybuilders. Besides, what are the health benefits of lifting weights? During week 3, Stu argues that everyone should engage in some form of strength training—and the practice becomes more important, not less, as you age. Once you’re convinced, Stu teaches techniques that will help everyone to be stronger, to stave off the decline in muscle strength that otherwise happens as we age. Finally, Stu provides hacks to get you comfortable performing strengthening exercises—and teaches you to design your own resistance-training workouts.
What's included
6 videos9 readings4 discussion prompts1 plugin
Remember the question Marty and Stu posed in the first week? What’s more important, cardiorespiratory or musculoskeletal health? In the last week they’ll finally answer it for you. They’ll talk about some of the surprising benefits of exercise—like the fact that it can help you mentally retain information (sweat so you don’t forget!). They’ll discuss the debate over the exercise pill. They’ll teach you hacks that help you boost muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness, together—and finish the course by teaching you techniques to design your own fun, combined workouts designed to keep you exercising for the rest of your life!
What's included
6 videos6 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts1 plugin
Instructors
Instructor ratings
4.8 (186 ratings)Offered by
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Learner reviews
4.7
793 reviews
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Showing 3 of 793
AB
5
Reviewed on Nov 4, 2020
The final only with an upgrade was a bit frustrating but I have recommended the course five times over anyway. Great scientific knowledge! As well as practical experience
MW
5
Reviewed on May 21, 2022
Enjoyed the course and it improved my knowledge of exercise for health.
JB
5
Reviewed on Nov 26, 2019
I found the information very useful and enlightening. Even if I have been exercising continually for a very long time, you can always learn new things to improve or be more productive.
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