Diet and exercise are incredibly important in both losing weight and maintaining your weight goals.
Low-impact exercises are the perfect way to ease into moving your body more if it’s not something you’re used to or if you’ve been a little inactive for a while.
Exercise is great for both your health and fitness levels. Read on for some ideas on how to move your body more and get your heart pumping.
Research suggests moderate-intensity, low-impact activity, such as yoga and fast walking, is just as effective as high-impact activity, such as running, in lowering the risk of heart disease.
Here are some great low-impact activities that you can do to begin your exercise journey:
Walking
Walking is by far the easiest low-impact exercise. It works the cardiovascular system and burns calories. To get your heart rate up, try walking faster than a stroll. Begin to pick up the pace to increase the intensity of your workouts. Add short bursts of extra speed or walk up a steady incline such as a hill.
Cycling
Cycling is a low-impact activity. Cycling is an aerobic exercise that works your lower body and cardiovascular system. Start slowly and increase the length of your cycling sessions gradually. If you have access to a static bike, this is a great way to keep active and motivated when the weather packs in.
Swimming
Swimming works the whole body. It’s a great way to tone up and get trim. Swimming a few lengths involves most of the muscle groups, and you’ll get a good aerobic workout if you increase the pace. Swimming can also help you lose weight if you swim at a steady and continuous pace throughout your session. Try counting laps and do a few more each session until you reach your goals.
Yoga
Yoga can improve both your physical fitness and your general wellbeing through a series of postures and breathing exercises. Regular yoga practice helps develop strength, balance and flexibility. It can also lift your mood.
Pilates
Pilates focuses on rebalancing the body and improving posture through slow, controlled movements and exercises. Regular practice can help you improve muscle strength and your overall sense of wellbeing. It can be helpful for people who can’t jump around too much.
Tai chi
This ancient Chinese art promotes mental and physical wellbeing. Movements are generally slow and controlled. This means you won’t improve your cardiovascular fitness or get a calorie-burning workout, but it does improve strength, flexibility and balance. Pairing Tai Chi with a more intense work out is a great way to relax post exercise and bring your body back to a resting heart rate.