Hearts and Lungs Are Muscles Too: The Benefits of Incorporating “Cardio” into Your Workout Week
Introduction:
Welcome to the world of fitness! Whether you are starting from scratch or have been exercise-shy for a while, it's never too late to begin working on your physical health. Today, we're going to talk about one of the most critical components of any workout routine: cardiovascular exercise, or "cardio" for short. Cardio refers to any activity or exercise that raises your heart rate and helps develop endurance in your lungs. Many people underestimate the importance of incorporating cardio into their fitness plans, but its benefits are numerous. As a personal trainer, I have seen firsthand how adding cardio to a workout program can make a significant difference in overall health and wellness.
Body:
1. Cardio helps burn calories and aids in weight loss: One of the most common reasons people incorporate cardio into their workout week is to achieve weight loss. But the benefits of burning calories go far beyond just slimming down. Cardio helps remove fat deposits from the body, which means less risk of cardiovascular diseases like high blood pressure, artery blockages, and more. Our CONDITION and FUSION classes are two great ways to incorporate a high intensity workout into your week.
2. Cardio improves cardiovascular health: As we mentioned earlier, cardio exercises serve to build endurance in your heart and lungs. The higher your heart rate, the more oxygen your body needs to function correctly, and consistent cardio can help your body and heart become more efficient in this process. Improved cardiovascular health means less risk of heart attack, stroke, and other associated diseases.
3. Cardio helps boost energy levels: It may seem counter-intuitive that a workout focused on making your heart race could increase your energy levels, but it's true. Cardio exercises promote the release of endorphins, which are natural mood boosters. Additionally, they help increase blood flow, boosting your overall energy levels, and making you feel more alert and awake.
4. Cardio helps you sleep better: Regular cardio exercise has been shown to improve the quality of sleep. When we exercise, our muscles get tired, and our body requires more rest to recover from the exertion. This results in a deeper and more prolonged sleep cycle, helping you to wake up more refreshed and with more energy.
5. Cardio is fun and improves mental health: Finally, one of the best things about cardio is that it can be extremely fun! Running, dancing, hiking, cycling, and many other cardio exercises can be done alone or with friends, which can help boost your mood and social circle. Doing cardio can also help reduce stress, anxiety and lead to a general sense of well-being.
Conclusion:
Hopefully, from this article, you can appreciate that cardio is a vital part of any workout plan. It's an excellent tool for burning calories, building endurance in your heart and lungs, improving cardiovascular health, boosting energy levels, promoting good sleep, and improving mental health. Keep in mind that your cardio routine does not have to be the same every day or week. Mix it up in terms of activity, intensity, and duration, and have fun with it. Remember, this is not a sprint but a marathon, don't feel you have to go out and smash a high intensity workout off the bat resulting in injury and soreness. Focus on building long-term habits that work for you and enjoy the process! Come and try out our CONDITION and FUSION classes with our terrific 14 day free trial.