Cardio Barre

Dance Cardio: Shed Pounds While Having Fun and Feeling Great

If you find the idea of exercise boring and unpleasant, you may just not have found the right workout to try.  Cardio exercise is meant to keep your heart rate up in order to promote the burning of fat and calories, so any activity that keeps your blood pumping is giving you a good workout.  One of the most effective and exciting routines out there is dance cardio.  Once the music starts and you get into a rhythm, you won’t even notice that the time flew by and you’re left sweating and feeling great at the end.

Choosing the Right Class

If this is your first time trying dance cardio and you have no prior dance and rhythm experience, choosing a class designed for beginners will get you started in the right direction.  As you get a better feel for the steps and you feel more confident learning new moves, moving up to a more intense type of class should be something to keep in mind for the future.  

Don’t hesitate to let your instructor know that you’re brand new.  Most instructors will keep this in mind and make it easier for you to follow along if this is your first time.  Be sure to situate yourself in a spot that gives you a good view of your instructor and just follow along with the dance cardio routine as best you can.

Keeping Up At Your Own Pace

Even if you choose a beginner’s class, the moves can still get a little complicated when you’re brand new.  Don’t worry about getting every move nailed down on the first try.  If you get thrown off track, start back into the basic pattern and work in the more elaborate moves when you feel comfortable.  The point of dance cardio is to give you a great workout while having fun, so as long as you keep moving, you’re doing what you came there to do and the rest of the moves will come with time and practice.

Dance Cardio for the Shy Dancers

If you don’t feel comfortable dancing and working out in front of a full class, DVD’s are available so you can enjoy a great dance cardio workout in the privacy of your own home.  Even if you want to just learn some basic moves before joining a class, or get in an extra workout on your days off, dance cardio DVD’s can be an interesting way to spend 30-45 minutes of your afternoon burning some extra calories.  Make sure you are still giving yourself a good warm-up and cool down to prevent any injury or sprains.

Home Cardio Routines to Get You Moving

If you don’t have time for the gym or don’t want to pay for costly membership fees, you can still get a great workout and stay in shape.  Putting together a home cardio routine can be much more convenient for some people who are short on time or have children they can’t leave home alone.  Keep in mind the basic requirements of a good cardio workout and you’ll be shedding pounds from the comfort of your own living room, backyard, or local park in no time.

Why Workout At Home?

Everyone has their own reasons, but if you find you just don’t have time to get to the gym or you feel that a monthly membership just isn’t worth the cost, creating your own home gym workout area might be the best idea for you.  Some people prefer not to workout in front of other people and others cannot leave children or other dependants unattended.  Whatever your reason may be, if you’re serious about getting into shape you’ll need to choose a specific time you’re going to workout and stick to it.

Developing a Home Cardio Routine

You’re home cardio workout sessions don’t have to be a complicated series of calisthenics, sprints, weights, and drills.  You don’t need to purchase expensive cardio machines and try to find a spot for them in your already overcrowded spare bedroom.  If you want to do those things, then by all means, go for it, but putting together a simple home cardio workout can be as easy as popping in a dance cardio DVD, doing some sprints up and down your stairs, or skipping rope for 25 minutes in your backyard.

Whatever types of exercise you decide to do, keep in mind that your goal is to keep your heart rate elevated for about 20-60 minutes.  Doing a rapid succession of squats, burpees, push-ups, sit-ups, and jumping jacks with no rest in between sets is a simple routine you can follow that requires no equipment and doesn’t even take up much floor space.

Tools to Help You

If you do choose to invest in some home cardio exercise equipment, you can usually find reasonably priced treadmills, bikes, or elliptical machines second hand or sometimes on sale in sporting goods stores.  Smaller accessories that could be very helpful to you may include a small variety of cardio DVD’s, a jump rope, an exercise mat, a few light weights, or some rubber resistance bands.  

A lot of useful equipment can even be found already in your home such as chairs, benches, or your basement staircase.  Having fun with your home cardio routine and getting creative can ensure that you’re staying fit while keeping motivated.  Just be sure to keep your heart pumping and exercise for at least 20 minutes a day and at  least 3 times a week for the best results.

Kickbox Cardio:  Kick Your Way into a Healthier Body

If your old cardio routine is getting stale or you’re a beginner looking for a cardio workout to get you started, kickbox cardio can be a great way to get into shape or increase the strength and stamina you’ve already gained.  Kickbox cardio can be done at your own pace and intensity, so people of all fitness levels can benefit from this type of workout.

Working Out Your Cardiovascular System

Kickbox cardio is usually done at a fast pace with little or no breaks in between routines and will effectively keep your heart rate up at the fat burning levels.  For the shorter rest periods you do take, active rest will be encouraged in order to keep your body moving.  As long as you stay active and prevent your heart rate from dropping too low, you will be continuously burning fat and developing a strong heart and lungs.

Toning Your Whole Body

Unlike jogging or cycling, kickbox cardio is a full body workout that incorporates all of your limbs.  Kicking, punching, and combos ensure that you’re working out more that just one muscle group.  Kickbox cardio routines will also involve skipping, push-ups, sprinting, and jumping exercises so while you’re exhausting your heart, you’re giving equal punishment to your arms and legs to get maximum muscle tone.

Balance and Flexibility

Any well rounded workout routine should involve three aspects; cardio exercise, strength training, and flexibility.  Kickbox cardio routines usually have very involved warm-up and cool down periods in order to prevent injury and ensure all your muscles are ready to extend into the most effective kicks and jabs.  The stretching you do before and after your workout will play a big role in developing flexibility.  You’ll also gain more stability and balance by having to often support your weight on only one foot.

While Kickbox cardio can make you feel more powerful and confident, these classes should not be used as a means of learning self defence.  The techniques you’re taught are designed more for a cardio workout than combat preparation, but learning the basic moves may ignite a passion in you for a more serious kickboxing experience.  For those just looking to have fun and get in shape, kickbox cardio is an excellent routine to get you there and keep you motivated.

What are Cardio Exercises: the Basics
Cardio exercises are types of exercises that work out your cardiovascular system and strengthen your heart and lungs.  Cardio can refer to a wide range of exercises, but it’s basically any type of activity that keeps your heart rate up and gets your blood flowing.  Cardio workouts are a great way to burn calories and fat resulting in higher levels of weight loss than lower impact workouts.


The Difference between Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise
Aerobic exercise, or cardio, uses oxygen to fuel the body while anaerobic exercise uses stored glycogen.  Anaerobic exercises are generally shorter and more intense with longer rest periods in between each set, such as weight lifting.  Weight lifting can be made into a cardio workout if you choose to use lighter weights with more reps and take little or no break in between sets to keep your heart rate up.


Steady State Cardio Exercises versus Interval Training
When you hear people referring to steady state workouts and interval training, they’re talking about the amount of rest you’re taking during your workout.  Steady state cardio exercises involve a warm up, a cardio activity that is maintained for a longer period of time at a moderate level, and a cool down.  Your workout can be anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, but the goal is maintain your target heart rate.

Interval training, on the other hand, is a burst of exertion for a set amount of time, say 30 seconds, followed by an active rest interval, perhaps 15 seconds.  Your exercise to rest ratio may vary and your intensity levels should be increased with longer rest periods.  Both are effective cardio techniques and your routine will depend on preference and personal results.


Popular Cardio Exercises You Don’t Have To Pay For
Some of the most popular and effective cardio exercises can be done with no gym membership and no expensive workout equipment.  Since the main goal is to get your heart rate up and keep it above a certain level, you can get a great cardio workout almost anywhere.  Whether you choose to go for a jog, bike ride, swim, or hike, keep your exertion level up and you’ll be burning more fat and calories than ever.

Regardless of what your own personal health and fitness goals are, cardio exercises are a fantastic way to keep your body healthy and your cardiovascular system functioning properly.  Whether you choose to go for a brisk walk a few times a week or run hard every second day, cardio is an excellent way to feel great and keep your figure looking its best.