Not every man and woman is cut out for the high intensity training that many people embrace when they want to lose weight and look and feel better. Some people need or prefer low impact exercise routines.
Strength training, endurance, flexibility and balance are the four prominent areas where you can embrace a low impact exercise regimen and receive health benefits without putting your body at risk for injury or exhaustion.
Free Report: Top Types of Low Impact Cardio ExerciseWhat Is Low Impact Exercise?
Low impact exercise is the type of exercise that doesn’t put stress on your body. That means, it’s kind to your joints and bones and muscles. If you’ve ever felt the pain of working out the following day, then you’ve probably engaged in high impact exercise.
Walking
The most prominent low impact exercise most people engage in is walking. Anyone can walk, anywhere, at any time. You don’t need special equipment aside from comfortable shoes. You can walk on a flat plane or up and down hills, depending on your fitness level. and you can walk outside, indoors, in place, fast, or slow. It all revolves around your comfort level.
Aerobics
Aerobics are often considered high impact because if you’ve ever seen some of those classes, you’ll know that there’s a lot of movement and bouncing around. But there are also low impact aerobic and cardio exercises.
Tai Chi
Tai chi is a popular low impact exercise. It’s an ancient Chinese exercise based on slow movement and deep breathing, combined. You will stretch your body and put it in a state of constant motion, while keeping your joints and other body parts protected.
Yoga
Yoga is another low impact exercise, but don’t mistake it as being easy. The great thing about yoga is that as your fitness level improves, you can stick with the low impact, but increase the calorie burn based on what you choose to do with it.
Pilates
Pilates is a similar exercise to yoga and tai chi in that you’ll be strengthening your core, not putting stress on your body, and reaping the rewards of getting some low impact exercise worked into your day.
Swimming
One low impact exercise that many people enjoy is water-based. That could include swimming (like doing laps in the pool), or water aerobics or strength training. Not only are water exercises good for your body and mind, but most people have a lot of fun being in the water to swim, and it feels relaxing, not strenuous. You can even take local classes for this type of exercise.
Exercise Bikes
Exercise bikes can be a great way to work in low impact exercise – as long as you choose to use one with low resistance. On most bikes, you set the resistance level, and if you do too much at once, you might strain your knees. Build up over time and enjoy the stationary bike in a gym or in the comfort of your own home.
Elliptical Machines
Elliptical machines can give you a nice, hard workout, without any stress on your joints. The elliptical is preferred by many people over the treadmill because the treadmill has a hard surface and the shock of each step can hurt. With an elliptical, it’s like floating in air – but you’re moving and getting exercise benefits!
Rowing
Rowing is a good way to firm up your body and burn calories. You can use a rowing machine in a gym or at home, but you can also take up a sport like kayaking to enjoy yourself more if you dread exercising.
Golf
Golf is a great sport to take up for some low impact exercise. Golfers of all ages enjoy this sport – from toddlers and senior citizens. You can walk and play 9-18 holes, or you can ride a cart and still get some of the benefits from each swing, and the steps you take to your ball, the green and the teebox.
Dancing
Dancing can be a fun way to work in some low impact exercise. You can use dance in many ways, such as:
- Zumba (or other dance) classes
- Kinect or Wii dance games
- Dance Apps or DVDs
- Random dancing around the house
Free Report: Top Types of Low Impact Cardio Exercise
There are no right or wrong ways to work in low impact exercise. It’s all about getting some movement during your day. You want to push yourself a little bit, but you should never physically be in pain when doing this type of workout regimen.
For many people, a high-intensity workout can feel like a heart attack and is too intense and strenuous. Steady state cardio is simply a cardio workout where you put out a continuous, steady effort. It works for many because it’s straightforward and easy to embrace. If you haven’t exercised in a long time or you want to push your current workout routine and take it to the next level, download my free report, Top Types of Steady State Cardio Workout.
