Which Exercises Actually Cardio?

There are a lot of general exercise terms before you realize you don't really know what it means. And when deciding on a training class or video you want to do, confusion about terminology can drag you to training you are not ready for or want to do. Let's start with one common: cardio. What exactly is and what exercises are considered cardio?

What is Cardio?

The main focus of cardio is to increase your heartbeat and keep it there. In summary, this is the physical workout of the lungs, heart and blood vessels. According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), cardio is a rhythmic and continuous exercise that uses your large muscle groups for blood pumping. This rhythmic, continuous nature is important. You run your heart rate at a constant rate during cardio, instead of raising it up or letting it fall. The exercise itself is not as important as a steady heart rate; as long as you have this rhythm of the heartbeat, you do cardio. And if it sounds like aerobics, you're right :)

What Are Some Examples Of Cardio Exercises?

You can do cardio training with any kind of exercise that increases your heartbeat. While there are classic cardio exercises - what coaches and other fitness professionals often call cardio:

Walk

Running

Bicycle

Climbing stairs

Dance cardio

Regarding how often you need to do cardio, instructors suggest that it can be divided into 150 minutes, 30 minutes a week, five days a week.

Cardio offers countless benefits, from burning fat and preventing diseases from raising your mood.