Welcome back to this week’s edition of 2-Minute Tuesdays where we are talking about one exercise topic for two minutes and giving you three reasons why you should follow our advice. Now this week we are disclosing three things that you have never heard about cardio. That cardio activity that you love to do? What has nobody ever told you about it? What are three things that you need to pay attention to?
1) Cardio Is All About Getting Your HR Up
The first thing that you need to know is that cardiovascular exercise, in its nature, is when your heart rate is elevated. A lot of times we think of the normal stuff like running or biking, but remember, the whole goal of cardio isn’t to run or to bike. The goal is to get your heart rate up. You can do this through traditional cardio activities, as well as activities such as weight training.
Action Step: Consider some alternative activities to help you get your cardio in. Instead of running or biking, try lifting really heavy weights for 90 to 120 seconds at a time. If you are doing this right, your heart rate will be through the roof!
Related: 3 Cardio Tips To Minimize The Pounding On Your Joints
2) “No” Impact Doesn’t Mean No Stress
The second thing that nobody has ever told you about cardiovascular exercise is that “no impact” cardio does not mean no stress on your joints. It can still be super stressful! If you are using the step mill, the stair climber, or the elliptical, and it is really pushing your ankles and feet in weird directions, you need to be careful of that. That can be stressful to your joints, even more so than the high impact cardio that everybody fears.
Action Step: Re-evaluate what you are doing for your cardiovascular activities. Are you certain that your no impact or low impact activities aren’t detrimental to your joints? If you are unsure, check out this list of some of our most well-respected colleagues and find one in your area to connect with!
Related: 3 Considerations When Doing Cardio
3) Cardio Activities = Repetitive Stress
The last thing that nobody ever talks about when it comes to cardio is that many cardiovascular exercises are very repetitive. Activities such as running, biking, going on the elliptical, and swimming contain a ton of repetitive stresses. You must remember that it is not good to do cardio at all costs, especially if it is hurting your joints.
Action Step: Make sure to connect with your local Muscle Activation Techniques® practitioner if you are having issues with your muscular system when you try to do cardiovascular activity. A list of all of the certified practitioners worldwide can be found here.