How to use Structured Workouts
Structured Workouts is the generic term we use to describe Workouts, Routines and Exercises in TrainingPeaks.com. Each workout can be saved as a template and stored in a Library for re-use when you are creating client schedules. They are called "Structured" because we have introduced the ability to provide a specific set of instructions, for example "reps", "sets", "intervals" and intensity levels can be prescribed.
WORKOUTS, ROUTINES AND EXERCISES, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
USING LIBRARIES AND FILTERS TO ORGANIZE STRUCTURED TEMPLATES
Workouts, Routines and Exercises that are in your Training Library are referred to as "templates". That is, they are pre-defined so that the actual work of scheduling them on the calendar for a client to use is as simple as drag and drop from the Library onto the Calendar or Spreadsheet.
Using the Template Builder, an exercise now has these components (note: a workout has a few more components):
Once information is completed, the Structured portion appears at the bottom of the template:
Workouts, Routines & Exercises, What's the Difference?
Fundamental to our design, is that Structured Workouts are really a collection of each of these item types.
- Exercises = Single activity comprised of text description, media (video or photos), attached files and specific instructions. Think of describing a Bench Press with sets/reps/weights, a video describing how to perform the activity, and a text description with details about the activity. Exercises comprise the lowest level of an overall Workout.
- Routines = Routines are a collection of multiple Exercises.
- Workouts = Comprised of one or many Exercises and or Routines and can also include the overall time, distance and instructions for peforming the activity.
Said another way, a Workout can be composed of a single Exercise, or it could contain multiple Exercises or Routines. Here's some examples:
- Bench Press is a single exercise which can be used either by itself, or as part of a bigger routine for "chest" or as a piece of an overall workout
- Legs Routine could be composed of several exercises like squat, lunges, leg curls and calf raises
- Workouts could include a warmup, a chest routine, a leg routine and a cooldown
We have designed our Structured Workouts system to promote a lot of re-usability, that is, you can create each part of various workouts and save them for later re-use, either scheduled for a later date or even with a different client. Ultimately, you prescribe workouts, which can be composed of exercises, routines or both.
To edit a Structured Workout Template, click on the Template name where it is listed in the library. This will bring up the Template information. Click "Edit" to make changes to the Template. Click "Clone" to copy the template.
Clicking "Edit" brings up the Template Builder (see "Creating a Structured Workout" above for details). From here you can change the name, description, filters, and the exercises or intervals (and their sets).
To edit the Structured Exercise information, clikc the "Edit" link (as seen in screen shot above). This will bring up the detailed Set Editor screen.
Users can create libraries of workouts/exercises/routines using any type of categorization scheme. We refer to a category using the terms "Filter Groups" and "Filters".. for example:
- Filter Group = Equipment
- Filter = Bench or Barbell or Dumbell or Swiss Ball etc.
Each library of workouts can have its own set of Filter Groups and Filters. To create a Library, click "Options" then Manage libraries.
