Cardio or cardiovascular exercise is much more than just running & torturing your body for hours on end with intensive exercises such as burpees, squat jumps, which are not liked by many. Enjoying the process is as important as challenging your body to do better than yesterday.
Here are some enjoyable cardio alternatives which bring joy to both body & mind:-
1. Boxing
One of the best ways to burn some calories is boxing. Not only does it make you feel stronger than everybody else but also enables you to take out all the stress you have collected over a time period on the punching bag. Boxing will help you in improving your cardiovascular health, increase muscle mass, stamina & enhance your sleep quality. A good 1-hour session of boxing can burn up to 800 calories.
2. Basketball
Basketball is a game we’ve all played with our friends. Tackling both the ball and the opponent at the same time contributes not only to improve your hand-eye coordination but also your fight or flight response. It also has various social benefits as it teaches you teamwork & enhances your decision-making skills.
Playing basketball with full vigor for an hour can burn up to 700 calories.
3. Swimming
A sunny day is not the most practical if you’re playing in an outdoor court/stadium. This is where swimming comes into the picture. Swimming helps in toning your muscles, building strength, endurance and helps you maintain a good weight, healthy heart & lungs. It can also help relieve some amount of stress in your body. Swimming for an hour can help you burn approximately 500 calories.
4. Hiking
While hiking may not be accessible to everyone, however, if it is, one should make good use of it. Your goal might be to get in some cardio for the day or take that one Instagram-worthy photo at the top of the trail, both ways you’re working out your body. Hiking with friends is a common hang-out option that is both fun & intensive. Hiking for an hour will burn around 500 calories.
These were some alternatives to conventional cardio which can be incorporated by people who are not fans of running on the road and/or the treadmill i.e., going to the gym every day.
