FITNESS & BEAUTY · NOVEMBER 2018
IMPROVE YOUR
CARDIO ROUTINE
A
re you tired of the same old exercises? If the answer is yes, now would be a good time to try a new routine.
Remember when you couldn't wait to get to the gym? You'd wake up and head out the door, eager to jump on your
favorite piece of equipment, or you'd race to be first in line for your group fitness class. After a while, that eagerness
turned to ambivalence, or worse, dread. Soon you had to convince yourself to go, which affected how often you worked out.
Now you need to find a way to even get interested in the gym or your group fitness class or your solo in-house workout
routines.ed about the gym or your group fitness class or your solo inhouse workout routines.
WE HAVE SOME IDEAS TO GET YOU
STARTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
Get out and dance. Ten minutes of
toetapping fun is a quick and easy way to
get in a cardio workout, so turn up the
music and dance to your heart's content.
It will get the endorphins hopping, your
body moving, and your heart rate up. It's
the perfect exercise for anyone at any skill
level. You don't have to dance like Fred
and Ginger to reap the benefits. Check
with your local dance studios if you'd like
to take a dance class or two. They're likely
to have plenty of classes to choose from.
First, you have to make heart health a
priority. The best way to make sure you're
doing what's right for your body, mind,
and your heart is to make sure you get
adequate cardio workouts. Don't make it
too difficult because it's not about how
you move, rather about how often you
move at the right speed. Cardio should be
about moving your large muscle groups
such as your arms and legs. What you're
doing when you're running on a treadmill
or in that kickboxing class is forcing blood
to travel through your arteries, which
is a good thing. Your heart and lungs
are forced to work harder to meet the
increased demand for oxygen throughout
your body. Oxygen is what helps to keep
your cells in tip-top shape. It doesn't mat-
ter what kind of exercise you do. You just
have to move on a regular basis.
Grab your bike and go! Remember how
much fun you had when you'd ride your
bike around the neighborhood when you
were a kid? Well—news flash—you can
experience that fun again. Grab your bike
and take a ride around town. Have your
children or grandchildren pull their bikes
out of the garage and hit a bike trail for
hours of family fun. Biking is a great way to
improve circulation, relieve stress, and get
your heart pumping.
WHAT KIND OF EXERCISES ARE THE
BEST FOR YOUR HEART?
JOIN A TEAM.
Swimming is an excellent exercise that's
not too hard on your muscles or joints.
The motion of the water helps to calm
your nerves and lower your stress levels.
The best part? People of all ages can do it. If
you don't have access to a pool, check with
your local gym. Chances are they offer swim
lessons or water aerobics. Some even offer
hydrobiking classes that can be a lot of fun.
There are dozens of organized team
sports for adults. Play basketball or
volleyball or dig out your old bowling ball
from the attic and get started today. The
camaraderie will do you some good and
the exercise is just what your heart needs.
By Eilleen Smith
32 HEALTHY MAGAZINE