The antidote to a culture where harder and faster has become synonymous with better and stronger (but is exhausting and stressful in the long-term) is to go a little more slowly and leisurely – sometimes, at least. In the fitness world, the relatively relaxing zone 2 training is currently having its moment in the sun. The exercise trend du jour’s virtues are being sung on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and by any personal trainer worth their weight.
We don’t need to go fast to go far with our fitness goals. Credit: iStock In his new book The Art of Longevity , exercise scientist Rodrigo Perez says the on-trend training “greatly benefits” anyone, regardless of their fitness or goals. “If you are interested in optimising your endurance, improving your body composition (your percentage of fat, bone and muscle), avoiding injuries and reducing the risks of overtraining, zone 2 should be your goal,” writes Perez, who has worked with professional athletes including current world number three surfer Jack Robinson.
But, what exactly is it? And given zone 2, the so-called “fat-burning” zone, may not, in fact, be the best way to burn fat, does it warrant the hype? What is zone 2 training? The longer, slower, more leisurely session, zone 2 training is the type of exercise that we can maintain for longer periods because it never takes us above 60 to 70 per cent of our maximum heart rate, and will vary depending on your age and fitness. For one person, it’s brisk walking. F.