Cardio exercise is any exercise that raises your heart rate. Face it our bodies were made to move. And we all know that to keep our muscles in shape we need move them. This movement makes them stronger and stronger muscles make for a more efficient and healthy body. Your heart is a muscle. Therefore working it makes it stronger. A stronger cardio-vascular system means more capillaries delivering more oxygen to cells in your muscles. This enables your cells to burn more fat during both exercise and inactivity.
Here are some exercise you can do in your free time
- JUMP ROPE
This form of cardio can be done just about anywhere. Turn up your favorite playlist and jump to the beat. Tossing your jump rope in a backpack, suitcase, or purse will help you squeeze in your 150 minutes of exercise per week whenever you have some spare time.
Cheap, easy and burns tons of calories. If you remember doing this for hours as a kid you will be surprised at how exhausted you will get now.
2. WALKING
Walking is a great starting place for people who are new to exercise. Even a 10-minute walk can get you on the road to improved heart health. Experienced exercisers benefit from it, too.
This is the easiest and safest way to start getting in your cardio.
3. JUMPING JACKS
Jumping jacks burn about 100 calories in 10 minutes and no special equipment or skills are needed.

4. CYCLING
Cycling uses large muscle groups in the legs and helps elevate your heart rate. This one is great you can do it inside or outside, with your kids, or even over the internet in your own home.
5. STAIR CLIMBING
Climbing stairs is a fantastic way to get your heart pumping and your body sweating. Find a park with a big set of stairs, or just a stairwell at a nearby building. Any climb will do. And if you need to stay indoors, the Stairmaster is your friend.
Doing these cardio exercise is very important because :
- It helps you burn fat and calories for weight loss.
- It makes your heart strong so that it doesn’t have to work as hard to pump blood.
- It increases your lung capacity.
- It helps reduce your risk of heart attack, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and some forms of cancer.
- It makes you feel good, and can even provide temporary relief from depression and anxiety.
- It helps you sleep better.
- It helps reduce stress.
- It improve your sex life.
- It gives you more confidence in how you look and feel.
- Weight-bearing cardio exercise helps increase your bone density.
- It allows you to set a good example for your family.



