Cardio-training is practiced to maintain the body and stay in shape. Cardio exercises are performed both indoors and at home. Ideal for strengthening the cardiovascular and cardio-respiratory system, the workout brings together fitness exercises that appeal to the heart muscle. It prevents cardiovascular disease while promoting fat loss.
You often hesitate between cycling, running, or scootering for your cardio session. While all three have advantages, they also have disadvantages that need to be adapted.
Today you want to do some cardio at the gym. Only, when you arrive on a scooter and meet the fitness machines, you hesitate between the treadmill and the bike. It is undeniable that both are excellent for keeping fit and melting fat (even if we know that the fat does not melt). So which one to choose? Should you leave the gym and continue riding on your scooter?
Running
Running is the basic activity when you want to get back to playing sports. Besides, in any sports club, the pre-season is based on running and it’s not for nothing. This discipline is excellent for burning fat, besides compared to its closest competitor – the bike, one spends more calories by being on foot. It is also an excellent sport for psychological well-being. It is not uncommon that the endorphin created after a race makes some addicted, but above all, running affects the health of our brain to connect certain areas between them. This increases our organizational, choice, or multi-tasking skills. Running outdoors is still more effective than on the treadmill.
Cycling or biking
Cycling is an excellent activity that we had already talked about as being one of the best for cardio. The bike is one of the only instruments to combine perfectly with strength training, especially during the leg session. Once it’s over, ride a saddle and pedal a little. This will keep hard-earned muscle mass, unlike running. In addition, the aches and pains will be much less present the next day, and we all know how horrible leg pain can be.
The bike takes care of your joints and protects you from bone injuries, unlike running which tends to destroy the knees and ankles in the long run. The only real drawback is that the saddle of a bike can sometimes be uncomfortable and hurt the buttocks.
The kick scooter
Many people are not aware that riding a kick scooter is an excellent choice to do light cardio exercise. If you don’t know what a kick scooter looks like and how it works, you can visit Go2scooter for all the scooter information you need. Scootering is best to condition your legs and arms and a good activity to refresh your brain. The good thing about scootering is, you navigate wherever you want to while kicking the ground so you can assure that your effort will not be wasted.
Verdict
The choice is always based on individual differences and needs. We will tend to say that running is still more beneficial for the body in the long term, especially for the joints. Going for a run regularly clears your mind and nothing is more important than releasing the pressure a little from time to time. Again, it is appropriate for everyone to choose their discipline based on their objectives or simply their preference. Moreover, if some are not convinced by running, cycling, or scootering, it is possible to do cardio differently.
If you are not convinced to do any of the three above, the following cardio exercises could help. You don’t need a gym to do this.
Check the following two simple cardio exercises at home, so you can enjoy this sport without going to the gym. You can work indoors, in your garden or why not on your terrace.
- The Skipping Rope
The skipping rope burns calories for those who have flat stomachs and avoids cellulite problems. This cardio exercise is perfect for maintaining the body figure, very practical and easy to perform. Just turn the rope and jump over it. In 20 minutes, you will be able to burn up to 220 calories. Training is within everyone’s reach, requiring no special skill, other than patience. Indeed, beginners may experience some difficulties at first. But you’ll get to grips quickly.
The right technique
For best results, the rope should be turned with the wrists and not with the arms. You have to be careful not to jump too high, just enough to get it under your heels. For starters, 10 to 30 seconds of alternating jumps of a walk on the spot for 5 to 10 laps are enough. Once you get used to it, you’ll be able to work longer jump sessions.
Variations
There are different variants of skipping rope exercises. You can include:
- Jumping on one foot;
- Alternate feet;
- Cross your feet;
- Jumping with your knees high;
- Double turn the rope.
Each of these exercises allows the body to work from different angles. It should be noted that wearing a good pair of sneakers is recommended during training.
- Squat jump
To work the muscles of your legs and abdominals intensively, try the squat jump. This cardio exercise to do at home will not only improve your cardiovascular abilities but also gain muscle tone.
For a perfect move, it is important to respect these few points:
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart as a starting position;
- During the descent, push your pelvis back by flexing your thighs. Once they are parallel to the ground, exhale as you leap;
- When landing, make sure that the front of your feet touches the ground first to cushion the impact to the maximum;
- To keep your balance, help yourself with your arms. Place them in front during the squat and bring them along your body during the jump;
- Try to keep your back straight and look ahead throughout the exercise.
There are dozens of cardio exercises available and you can find these tutorials online especially on YouTube. It is always better to have a video tutorial if you are doing it without a trainer to make sure you are doing proper exercises. Sometimes, doing it wrong can also result in long-term health issues or pain in some parts of your body.