If your one of internally morning motivated people who run 5 miles every day at 6AM, I salute you. The rest of us however, need a little external motivation to exercise regularly. Some of us cant work out by ourselves, we need other people, we need music, we need the motivation of an instructor, we need the fact that the class starts at seven and that we have to be committed to that hour.

Besides making you sweat, organised group classes offer this kind of intense communal motivation as well as present basic instruction form, body alignment and muscular function. "I've also made some good friends in class" notes an avid circuit trainer "Which motivates us to go even more knowing that your friend is waiting for you to show up".

The inaugural aerobic classes of the 1980's were highly choreographed and dominated by women but today's circuit classes are extraordinarily diverse in both content and demographics. Circuits have goon beyond basic cardio, so just about anyone can find something that suits his or her personality, fitness levels and goals.

So why do people choose circuit training?

Circuit training is by no means a new idea. Long before 'Aerobic', 'Step' or 'Aqua' were buzz words circuit training was used as a means of getting fit or maintaining fitness. The early forms of circuit training tended to be taught by big burly PTI's and were adopted by the services because of the results. During the 1980's circuit training was used as a valuable training tool by sports coaches for improving athletic performance.

These were geared towards strength, speed and explosive power so tended to involve a lot of jumping, throwing and running. Nowadays circuit training is offered in almost every leisure centre, health club or gym - but none can match the motivation, atmosphere or intensity of the 'Curtis-Curcuits' sessions.

So why do people flock to the 'Curtis-Circuit' Training classes?

Circuit Training has a very low choreography level. Other than a few Instructor-led, basic warm up exercises, there are no fancy footwork patterns or complicated arm movements. You work at your own pace. Each person will find a level based upon his or her fitness level and ability and work to it. Each exercise has a beginner, intermediate and advanced level, so as to be appropriate for all ages and abilities.

The classes are more interactive, variations include working with a partner, or in groups of 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12. You get to work with other people which helps to motivate and increase the social interaction of the Circuit Trainers. The main emphasis of the Circuit Training classes is on cardiovascular (heart & lung) improvement, with muscular strength and endurance work, co-ordination and balance skills, and improved flexibility. It is a total body workout encapsulated in a one-hour class.

The classes are always varied. The equipment used, structure and style of the Circuit, groupings of trainers, timings, rest periods and intensity is constantly varied to ensure the concept continually gives results and doesn't become boring. There is more instructor/client interaction as the Instructor comes round and talks to you, which means greater scope for individual attention.

Circuit Training is open to males and females to participate on an even level. In some cases more females attend Circuit Training classes than males. Circuit Training can dramatically improve strength, speed, stamina, power, endurance, balance, co-ordination and skill. Aerobics will only improve stamina short term.