Cardio exercises can be performed my most anyone, either in a health club environment under the direction of an instructor, or in the privacy of the home while following a video tape.
Cardio Exercises and Your Heart
According to the Remedy Land, heart disease is the leading cause of death among Americans, with 23 million people diagnosed and nearly 1 million deaths annually.
Hypertension, high cholesterol levels, and obesity are leading contributors to heart disease, and all three can be reduced or illuminated by participating in cardio exercises on a regular basis.
Cardio exercises play such a vital role in maintaining a healthy heart that according to the American Heart Association, "Most beneficial effects of physical activity on cardiovascular disease mortality can be attained through moderate-intensity activity (40% to 60% of maximal oxygen uptake, depending on age). The activity can be accrued through formal training programs or leisure-time physical activities."
Despite this information, the National Institute on Aging reports that only 58% of the American population engages in cardio exercises as leisure time activity and of those people, only 26 % do so three or more times a week as part of their lifetime fitness program.
Sadly, 33 percent of high school students across the country do not participate in the recommended amount of cardio exercises as outlined by the Surgeon General and the President's Council on Physical Fitness. This lack of participation in cardio exercises often carries into adulthood, where the number of people without lifetime a fitness program increases.
Cardio Exercises - Options for Fun and Fitness
Participating in cardio exercises on a regular basis means finding a program that is fun, within your current physical capabilities, and that will produce the desired results.
Don't be discouraged if you cannot complete your cardio exercises your first few times. Do what you can and come back the next day, or take a short break and continue the program. The key to success is staying committed to doing your cardio exercises on your set schedule.
Consider the following cardio exercises that involve aerobic workouts:
- Aerobics - Sometimes called "Dance Aerobics", aerobic exercise programs are a type of cardio exercises that are designed to increase the heart rate and burn calories while following a set routine that involves various steps and motions.
- Step Aerobics - A more advanced form of aerobics, step aerobics involves a small, stable platform to step upon as part of a traditional aerobic routine. Cardio exercises such as step aerobics add the leg muscle building benefits one might achieve if using a stair climbing machine.
- Dance Aerobics - Similar to basic aerobic cardio exercises, dance aerobics incorporate moves associated with modern dance and jazz routines.
- Kickboxing Aerobics - This form of aerobic exercise combines basic aerobic cardio exercises with punching and kicking techniques similar to what would be taught in a self defense class.
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