Dual workouts: The twice-is-better formula to get fit

Recreational athletes in India are choosing to exercise twice a day to improve endurance, performance and mood

- Shrenik Avlani

Ever wondered what separates a professional athlete from the rest of us? If you are thinking it's their skills and gifts, it's something much more basic: it is discipline and dedication to train twice a day. That's what makes them physically fit to perform at a high level over long periods of time without losing their edge. A majority of us don't even manage or try to carve out the time to exercise, train or play a sport even once a day. However, there is a growing tribe of regular people—especially runners and those who play some sport recreationally—making time for physical activities two times a day multiple times a week.

This two-sessions-a-day structure, known as 'training periodisation', helps athletes separate high-skill, high-intensity, and high-volume sessions to avoid interference effects and optimise recovery, explains Preeti Shetty, senior sports scientist for strength and condition at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai.

"Typically, morning sessions may focus on technical or aerobic conditioning, while evenings are reserved for strength or tactical work. According to research on elite endurance and team sport athletes, twice-a-day training can enhance overall training volume and adaptation without increasing injury risk provided [their] recovery is adequate," says Shetty.

BENEFITS OF DOUBLE WORKOUTS