Cardiovascular exercise is ridiculously important, but so many people struggle to fit any cardio into their lives. Joining a sports team, going to a boot-camp, or joining a gym all cost money and can involve a lot of travel. Luckily, it is possible to get an amazing cardio workout without leaving your house! In this article we will examine the best way to do cardio at home.
Method #1 Stair Climbing
Obviously, this method only works if your home has stairs! As you’ve probably noticed if you’ve ever had to run up the stairs to grab something, this activity can be surprisingly tough. Your heart will be racing after running up and down your stairs just once. Imagine creating a workout based around this? 10 ascents and descents, all with just 10 seconds rest in between. You’d burn a surprising number of calories with very little work.
Method #2 Yard Work
Yard work is tough, which is why so many people keep putting it off! It might not feel like exercise, but you’d be surprised just how taxing picking up leaves, tilling earth, pruning trees, or mowing the lawn can be. It doesn’t just have to be yard work either, washing the car, doing laundry, cleaning the house, all of these small tasks are great forms of cardio, particularly if you consciously decide to work as hard as you can at them.
Method #3 Punching Bag
A punching bag can be difficult to set up but once you’ve done the hard part it is a great form of cardio. There are few things in life more satisfying than hitting an inanimate object hard and repeatedly. Boxing works both the upper and lower body, so really works your cardiovascular system. Combine it with some stair climbing and you’ll soon have the lung capacity of an Olympian.
Method #4 Exercise Bike
The classic cardio at home move is to buy an exercise bike. You know why? Because they are such a great form of cardio. You can use them to work as hard as possible doing some HIIT, or you can use them for long, slow workouts while watching TV. Both will improve your cardiovascular fitness, and both are great ways to exercise.
Method #5 Workout Videos
While workout videos are often seen as corny now, they are still effective. You don’t have to be using some 90s aerobics video while dressed in a leotard. You can just as easily find a simple cardio workout on YouTube and exercise along with that. This method can be combined with an exercise bike, a punching bag, or even stair climbing to create a cool circuit. Speaking of circuits …
Method #6 Circuit Training
Any personal trainer will tell you that circuit training is the perfect way to perform a cardio session in a tight space. Particularly if you use bodyweight exercises. Just grab a timer, create a small plan (10 push ups, 10 jumping jacks, 30 seconds on an exercise bike at max intensity, 30 seconds of stair climbing) and find some awesome music. The perfect cardio fitness booster.
Method #7 Kettlebell Swings
This technique has been mentioned a few times on the internet, and we’re not sure who came up with it. But it is genius. Find a relatively heavy kettlebell and place it somewhere in your house (making sure that it won’t trip anyone up of course). Every time you pass it you have to perform 10 kettlebell swings (a great cardio exercise). If you place it near the bathroom or the kitchen then you should pass it several times a day. Imagine how many swings that equals throughout the day!
Final Thoughts
There are so many ways to improve your cardio, you can go for the classic method of buying a high-quality exercise bike, or you can go for something a little more out there. Alternatively, you could combine several different methods on this list. Just make sure that whatever you choose, you are consistent with it, and that you are prepared to test your limits.