Many activities can give you an aerobic/cardio workout. Some examples include cycling/biking, running, swimming, cross-country skiing, playing basketball, jumping rope, roller skating, walking briskly and dancing.
In addition to these activities, you can get an aerobic workout through stationary exercise machines such as cycles, treadmills, stair-steppers and rowing machines. These can be found at a local gym or health club. Most of these machines can also be used at home.
Walking As Exercise
Walking is free and easy to fit into your schedule:
- Walk at a good pace for at least a half an hour every day.
- Walk when you do your work.
- Try to walk walk way home when coming from short distance.
Cycling
Bicycling exercise offers no age barriers and people at almost any fitness level can perform and enjoy it. The benefit of bicycling exercise is it builds your strength and agility. Bicycling exercise is not only one of the best cardio exercises there is also less chance that you will ever get bored with it.
Swimming Pool Workout
A swimming pool workout is ideal for a full body exercise and cardiovascular fitness. Exercise in water is easy on the joints because the water supports you and water also provides a natural resistance.To keep your workout balanced, swim laps using different strokes to exercise different muscle groups. A swimming pool workout is one of the best cardio exercises because it gets you to your ideal target heart rate quickly.
Elliptical Exercise
Working out on an elliptical exerciser is one of the best cardio exercises available. Like a swimming pool workout, elliptical exercise also helps towards full body exercise and cardiovascular fitness. The motion of elliptical exercise feels very natural and compliments normal body movements making it feel like the workout is easier. Elliptical exercise creates a safe workout because it reduces the harmful stress and impact on your muscles and joints.
Playing basketball or soccer is also a great way to give your heart a workout and have a good time. But ideally they are not considered as aerobic exercise. Find something you like to do and try to do it 3 to 5 times a week for at least half an hour.
The duration of any Aerobic exercise should be a minimum of twenty minutes and up to sixty minutes. Test your heart rate while exercising and calculate your ideal target heart rate.
To get to your ideal target heart rate just adjust your speed or resistance. That way you get the highest possible benefit and the best Aerobic exercise possible.