Training for Cardiovascular Fitness

Cardio isn’t usually a favourite to add to your fitness programme but cardiovascular exercise has a number of benefits to add to your fitness goals and general health and wellbeing. So here’s a few reasons why you might want to think about adding some more cardio to your schedule.

1) Having better Cardio increases your overall energy and stamina. It can leave you feeling more invigorated and motivated day to day while making your workouts feel easier as you get tired less quickly.

2) Regular Cardio helps control blood pressure improving your health and lowering your risk of becoming afflicted with a few different health problems

3) Cardio helps you burn extra calories and maintain an ideal weight.

4) Improved cardio can lower your risk of getting injured. Aerobic power helps an athlete sustain a challenging exercise pace over

time. When you get tired, your movements are no longer fluid and efficient. You are more likely to make mistakes or get injured.

5) Cardio promotes healthy heart and lung function. Cardiovascular exercise is any activity that involves the large muscles of the body, is rhythmic and continuous in nature and challenges your heart and lungs to work harder. By challenging your heart and lungs to work harder healthy function is promoted and the muscles themselves will strengthen and better operate.

6) Cardio can be social! Activities like walking, jogging, running, cycling, swimming, aerobics, rowing, stair climbing, hiking, cross country skiing and many types of dancing are “pure” aerobic activities. While sports such as soccer, basketball, squash and tennis may also improve your cardiovascular fitness. These are all sports and activities you can do with your friends and gym buddies! Get out there and improve your cardio and reach your fitness goals together while having some fun.

7) Doing Cardio on your own doesn’t have to be boring either. Athletes typically use three training methods to improve their cardiovascular fitness: Slow to moderate-intensity distance training, Moderate to high-intensity interval training, High-intensity continuous exercise. So you don’t have to be slaving away doing the same cardio routine over and over, there’s loads of different types you can plan and mix up to keep you working at your best.

8) Cardio based activities are great stress relievers. Pushing your body and getting your heart rate raised results in an increased release of endorphins and helps combat stress. Similarly trying something different can refresh your mindset and help you feel positive about achieving something.