4 Easy Low-Intensity Workouts to Help You Reach Your Weekly Cardio Goals

Struggling to hit your daily step target lately? Working from home can make it tough to get enough walking in, especially if your routine involves short distances like sofa to kitchen. Luckily, low-impact workouts can help you meet, or even exceed, your daily cardio goals. According to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, these goals are 150 to 300 minutes of moderate cardio or 75 to 150 minutes of high-intensity cardio.

“If you can’t manage to get in that much walking due to a busy schedule, there are alternative ways to stay active without lengthy strolls!” advises a fitness expert. Here are four preferred options to help you accomplish that.

1. Strength Training

A fitness coach recommends, “Engage in a 40-minute strength training session with minimal rest periods.” “Ensure you’re using weights that challenge your muscles and maintain an elevated heart rate!” Weight lifting should feel tough by the last two to three reps but not impossible to move (with proper form).

If you’re following a workout video, the instructor can assist you, but if you’re on your own, aim for the last 10 seconds of each set to feel close to muscle failure.

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2. Barre

Barre workouts involve continuous movements that elevate your heart rate while building muscle endurance through high repetitions of low-impact exercises like squats and leg lifts.

3. Indoor Cycling

Whether you’re at a studio or in your living room, cycling on an exercise bike offers an excellent high-intensity, low-impact cardio workout.

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Low Impact HIIT

Low-impact High-Intensity Interval Training (HILIT) is a fantastic alternative to walking. Look for routines without jumping, as suggested by a fitness mentor.

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