The tetras is a four day, infinite cycle, sets the means of exercise into an ever-changing exercise routine.1 Each day focuses on a different aspect of fitness, while keeping the exercise routine focused on overall wellness as opposed to gaining mass or losing weight. Our knowledge of the Tetras system comes from a Hellenic physician Phylostratus2 who lived in Rome in the 3rd century AD who detailed out the system as follows:
- Day one: Preparatory workout of medium high intensity
- Day two: Hard workout at high intensity
- Day three: Rest day of stretching
- Day four: Medium intensity workout
If planned appropriately this method of exercise has the practitioner working out in a different way every day, while focusing on ensuring you are taking care of yourself and allowing your body to recover properly as well.
Taking this method, I will be attempting to run this system for my own fitness. I have struggled with maintaining a fitness program because of the repetitive nature of exercise causing me to become bored with it over time. To that end, I’ll be using two apps to help me, both by Yoga Buddhi Co.: Yoga5 and HIIT6. I am using these two apps because I already am a paying member of Yoga, which gives me full access to all of Yoga Buddhi Co.’s apps, and I enjoy how the options can be the same, but the exercises are completely different every time.
My exercise program will be the following:
- Day 1: In Yoga app: 50 minutes Strength Flow with the core strength boost
- Day 2: In Yoga app: 10 minute restorative session with the hip flexor stretches and twists boosts
In HIIT app: 30 minutes total body for bad knees, letting them choose the type
In Yoga app: Repeat the previous restorative yoga session. - Day 3: In Yoga app: 50 minute Yin session with hip flexor and twists boosts.
- Day 4: In Yoga app: 50 minute full practice with standing balance boost
I enjoy the HIIT workouts as they focus on movement and working multiple muscle groups per exercise. Further, the restorative yoga practice is not all stretches, often there are muscular holds in that practice which continues the work. The Yin session is advertised as deep stretching and “melting into the poses.”7
I look forward to giving an edit in a month to discuss how I feel and if I’ve been able to stay on the road.
1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF9CRW_AguA
2: See specifically Gymnasticus
3: https://www.ranker.com/list/roman-workout-secrets/michael-muir
4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTGpOvhSLgo
5: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.downdogapp
6: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.downdogapp.hiit
7: Yin description in Yoga app.
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