10 Fun Ways To Improve Your Cardio
Let’s face it, cardio workouts are not the most enjoyable exercises to do. Many people dread doing cardio when they go to the gym. The good news is there are many cardio workouts that are actually fun to do. Here are a few enjoyable exercises that will improve your cardio.
1. Boxing
Boxing is a great way to build up endurance and lose weight. Most boxers have amazing cardio due to the high-intensity nature of the sport. Throwing so many punches in a short amount of time does wonders for your cardio. Research has shown that one hour of boxing can burn off around 800 calories. The average person would have to run 8 miles to burn that off!
Boxing is also a fun way to let off extra steam. Hitting the heavy bag or focus mitts after a long stressful day is almost therapeutic for some people. Most people think they will have to fight someone if they go to a boxing gym. This could not be farther from the truth. Most people who attend boxing classes don’t even step foot in a boxing ring. Most classes make you do a variety of strength and conditioning workouts so you don’t have to worry about messing up your beautiful face.
2. Biking
Riding your bike is a great way to get outside and build up your cardio. Biking strengthens your leg muscles while improving your lung capacity. Biking also burns around 450 to 750 calories an hour making it a fun way to lose some weight.
Many cities are becoming more cyclist-friendly, so it is easier than ever to pick up biking. There are also bike trails where you can escape the city life and get a good workout in while enjoying the outdoors. You can ride your bike pretty much anywhere nowadays so now is a good time to pick up this healthy hobby.
3. Swimming
It is universally known that swimming is one of the best ways to improve your cardio. Many swimmers can hold there breathe for extremely long periods of time due to the benefits swimming has on their cardiovascular system. Swimming is also a full-body workout so it helps strengthen both the upper and lower body muscles while improving your cardio.
Swimming is also a great way to relax and cool off during a hot summer day. You don’t necessarily have to do countless laps in the pool to get a good workout in. Just swimming around leisurely can have health benefits. Playing pool games with friends like Marco Polo can be better for you than you might think.
4. Dancing
Another fun way to get a cardio workout is by dancing. Rather it be ballroom or swing style, dancing has been proven to be a great way to lose unwanted body fat and improve endurance. Dancing has many of the same health benefits as running but it is way more enjoyable.
What is awesome about dancing is it doesn’t require any exercise equipment. You simply put on your favorite music and dance the night away. You honestly don’t even need music! Most gyms also provide dance classes such as Zumba so you can say goodbye to the treadmill for good. The best part about dancing is it doesn’t even feel like a workout!
5. Playing Fitness Video Games
If you are a gamer and want to cardio workout while enjoying a fun video game then fitness games might be just what you’re looking for. Games like Dance Dance Revolution and Wii Fit are a fun way to build up cardio and burn off calories. These games might seem like they are for kids but they are actually great for all age groups.
There are tons of stories about people losing a lot of weight just by playing fitness games. I myself lost 20 pounds just by playing Dance Dance Revolution when I was a preteen. This is another great way to exercise that doesn’t even feel like a workout. You can easily waste hours and burn off hundreds of calories just by playing video games. What a time to be alive!
6. Rollerblading
Rollerblading is a fun way to get a cardio workout while having a good time doing it. The Mayo Clinic recently stated that a 160-pound person burns off up to 913 calories in one hour of rollerblading. A 160-pound person jogging at 5 mph for an hour would only burn 584.
It is also a good way to strengthen your lower body and improve your balance as well. Rollerblading strengthens your lower body even more than cycling and running. It is also a low impact cardio workout which means it doesn’t put much stress on your joints.
7. Organized Sports
Getting a group of friends together and playing a game of football or basketball is another great way to have fun while getting a good cardio workout in. It is no secret that playing sports can improve your physical health. Every sport has its own benefits but almost all popular sports help improve endurance and build up muscle strength.
Sometimes you don’t even need a group of people to play a sport. Playing basketball or practicing tennis by yourself is also beneficial to your health. Even the less physically demanding sports like bowling have health benefits (although bowling isn’t the best cardio exercise).
8. Jumping on a Trampoline
Jumping on a trampoline is better for you than you might think. It is a great way to build your lower body muscles and improve your cardio. NASA has recently said that jumping on a trampoline is 68% more efficient than jogging. This means that you burn more calories per hour on a trampoline than you do in an hour of running on a treadmill.
Working out on a trampoline also strengthens your bone density and joints. This helps prevent injuries and reduces the chances of you getting shin splints and similar issues. This is another low impact workout so the stress on your body is much lower than other workouts.
9. Parkour
This new extreme sport is a great way to improve your cardio. For people who don’t know, Parkour is a mix of acrobatics and running where you try to pull off tricks by jumping on and over things. This new extreme sport has been becoming very popular in the last 2 decades. There are even a few parkour gyms that have opened up recently around the United States.
All the running and jumping that is required in parkour is fantastic for your cardiovascular system. The sport is very demanding on your body making it a full-body workout. A lot of the tricks in parkour are similar to tricks you see in gymnastics. A lot of these tricks demand a great deal of upper and lower body strength to pull off. If you want to try a fun new way to get in shape, then look no further than parkour.
10. Rowing
Rowing is a fun, healthy way to build up your endurance and strength. It is another full-body workout with endless health benefits. Rowing a boat from one point to another sounds easy but it is much more difficult than you think. You use your arms, legs, and core muscles to push a heavy boat through the water.
Rowing can also be somewhat relaxing. Being on a lake is very enjoyable so working out on one helps you mind focus on our workout. You don’t have the chaos you would have in a city or a gym. It is just you, the lake, and nature. Rowing is perfect for people won’t want to change up their work out routine while escaping the stressful city life.
