At-Home Cardio: How to Crush Your Cardio Workouts From the Comfort of Home

Have you ever thought about how convenient it would be to be able to get a decent cardio workout from the comfort of your own home? Sure, there are cardio workouts to be had running, biking, or power-walking around your neighbourhood, but as summer quickly comes to a close, it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to keep getting that heart rate up all winter long.

Rather than spending time and money commuting to a cardio studio or gym, why not explore options that will allow you to stay a little closer to home? There are a ton of great alternatives to the run, bike, swim trio of cardio classics, and many of them are as simple as adding a little intensity and intention to activities and workouts you already do from home.

Here are four creative ways you can transform your home into an all-out cardio studio that will help you get your sweat on and heart rate up, all year long.

No-equipment cardio workouts

While running and power-walking will always be the royal power couple of no-equipment cardio, there are a variety of other exercises that can be performed in order to get your heart rate up and work out your cardiovascular system.

You can go old school with aerobics (dust of your spandex, leotards, and leg warmers, if you feel so inclined), get groovy with a more modern dance-type cardio, like Zumba, or follow any number of no-equipment cardio workouts that lean into heart pumping rhythm and intensity.

With no equipment needed, and many workouts available for free online, these types of at-home cardio exercises are highly effective and require just a little bit of open floor space to help get you moving and grooving towards your cardio goals.

2. Weave aerobic exercise into your strength training workouts.

The beauty of many no-equipment cardio workouts is that they can also combine strength and aerobic exercises, giving you extra bang for your time and energy with a strength and cardio workout rolled into one.

Many popular at-home strength training programs already require little or no equipment, relying on bodyweight exercises to build strength. When it comes to adding a cardio challenge to these types of workouts, it can be as simple as increasing the pace or intensity of those bodyweight exercises, or more intentional with the addition of cardio specific exercises like jumping jacks, high knees, or burpees between strength sets.

Invest in cardio equipments

While it’s not always feasible to have a full cardio gym in your home, investing in a quality cardio machine can give you a leg up towards crushing your cardio goals. 

Home cardio machines come in a range of shapes and sizes, and have become increasingly space-saving over the years, meaning that most homes can fit at least one piece of cardio equipment. On the small end, you can start with high-quality jump ropes and aerobic steps, then work your way up to a rowing machine, exercise bike, elliptical, or treadmill. 

Ultimately, the space you have to work with in your home and your own exercise priorities will determine the equipment you should consider. The footprint, functionality, and your own level of interest should be top of mind when you consider investing in at-home cardio equipment.

4. Other at-home activities

While they often get overlooked as simple chores or daily activities, there are a variety of at-home activities that can double as your cardio workout. Vacuuming, mopping, gardening, washing your car, mowing the lawn, washing windows, and shovelling snow are all household chores that can elevate your heart rate and help you get a cardio boost.

But to those of you who might recoil at the thought of using cardio as an excuse to do chores, there’s another more entertaining solution—good old-fashioned playtime. 

Whether you have kids to chase around the house, pets, or a playful significant other, engaging in sport or other active playtime with them is healthy on many levels. You will not only get some cardio in, but you will have forged more meaningful social bonds, contributing to greater overall health and wellbeing. 

Last, but certainly not least…

It’s important to remember that working out and exercising doesn’t always have to be drudgery, and it certainly doesn’t have to be laps around a track, or revs on a spin bike. The beauty of at-home cardio is that there is such a great variety of exercises and activities to explore, and some of them might even come with other lifestyle or productivity benefits. 

The keys to crushing your cardio goals at home are to get creative, add intention, and most importantly, have fun!

Although fitness can and should be a serious pursuit, it should never come at the cost of your personal enjoyment and sense of fulfillment. Fitness is a journey that should be enjoyed, and here at MAXUM fitness, we’re in the business of ensuring you explore every possible way to enjoy getting and staying fit from the comfort of your home.

If you are looking for home gym equipment to help you meet your cardio or strength training goals, MAXUM fitness has a tremendous and growing selection that will meet your needs and help you get there even quicker. From magnetic resistance exercise bikes, to water rowers, to functional trainers and dumbbells, MAXUM fitness is your go-to retailer for home gym equipment and cardio machines in Canada. 

Visit maxumfitness.ca to see the full lineup of MAXUM fitness home gym equipment, and see all the benefits that come from shopping with a trusted, local, Canadian home-gym equipment supplier.