Women in Charge

Does everybody have time to go to gym? I don’t think so; I know working all day in the office or running errands and home work we just want to go home and rest but exercising keeps us healthy, unless you are a devoted exerciser and do it a few times a week you need inspirations, simple solutions, like easy but effective exercise movements. Fortunately, there’s no need to go to the gym. Here are some cardio movements to do at home;

One of the best ways to look and feel better is to engage in some form of cardiovascular exercise each day. Studies continue to support the health benefits that are gained by increasing the heart rate for thirty minutes at least three times per week.

Recent studies have shown that more intense cardiovascular exercise such as running or walking rapidly uphill may have additional health benefits over a leisurely walk around the block, but any cardiovascular exercise is better than none at all.

Unfortunately, some people choose not to exercise because they don’t have the time or money to join a gym. The truth is it can be just as simple and more convenient to do cardio at home. Cardiovascular exercise requires a minimum of equipment, just a strong dedication to improving your health. Here are some ideas on how to do cardio at home:

Get a jump rope.

One of the simplest and least expensive ways to do cardio at home is to invest in an inexpensive jump rope. Even if you haven’t jumped a rope since childhood, you can still get a good workout using only this simple piece of equipment. The key is to start slowly and gradually increase the pace as you become more accustomed to the mechanics of jumping rope.

Always jump on a wood or carpeted surface, never concrete, which could increase the risk of shin splints. Start by jumping rope for ten minutes gradually increasing the time as you become more proficient until you can jump at a moderate pace for thirty minutes. This will not only give you an excellent cardiovascular workout but will also tone your lower body while increasing lower body strength and endurance. Since this is a high impact form of exercise, always check with your doctor before starting this type of program and take it slow at first.

Put your DVD player to work.

There are an infinite variety of exercise DVD’s that will give you a challenging cardiovascular workout. To do cardio at home, you can choose from step aerobics DVD’s, dance DVD’s, and interval training workouts that alternate strength training exercises and cardiovascular moves such as jumping jacks and plyometrics. To prevent boredom, invest in a variety of DVD’s led by different instructors and you’ll have a fresh, new workout each day of the week. Some good instructors to consider are Kathy Smith, Denise Austin, and Cathe Friedrich.

Dance to the music.

Who says doing cardio at home can’t be fun? Getting a heart thumping workout can be as simple as turning on some fast paced music and dancing at a challenging pace for thirty minutes. What could be simpler and more enjoyable?

Take it outside.

When the weather is beautiful, nothing beats a brisk walk or jog in the open air for thirty to forty minutes. Not only will you be doing good things for your heart, you’ll be clearing your mind and enjoying the sweet smells of nature. Change your route on a regular basis and you’ll never go bored.

As you can see, doing cardio at home doesn’t require fancy equipment or complicated routines. Sometimes simpler is better when it comes to exercise.

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November 7th, 2009 | Fitness | 5 Comments »