Learn how a trainer answers the question, Is it okay to pause a workout you’re doing online?

TLDR: It depends.

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You might have started a 20-minute video with the best of intentions.

woman sweating in the gym

So, is it okay to pause a workout youre taking online?

What really is the impact of taking short, unplanned breaks?

However, once you start taking numerous breaks or longer breaks, you may be short-changing yourself.

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

The other downside of answering your phone during a virtual class is that the distraction shifts your focus.

Are there certain kinds of workouts where you really shouldntor shouldtake a break?

A solid cardio session requires getting your heart rate up to a certain intensitywhich breaks could detract from.

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

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On the other hand, breaks during strength training workouts are typically much less problematic and sometimes even deliberate.

That said, you dont want the breaks to get too long.

(And we all know how easy it is to get lost in our phones.)

Healthy female training in the gym, performing a hip thrust.

And remember that breaks can have a strategic place in any workout, if used thoughtfully.

Quick rest breaks can be useful for managing fatigue or staying motivated during longer workouts.

But dont forget the reason you turned on a virtual workout in the first place.

A young black woman doing post-run stretches in the park on the road amidst green grass and trees.

Ready to give a distraction-free online workout a try?

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