CARDIOVASCULAR MACHINES

Rowing machines are considered a cardio exercise, but there are also a whole subset of fitness machines designed specifically to work out your heart and lungs.

Elliptical trainers, exercise bikes, stair steppers and climbers, and treadmills all exist to get your heart rate up and keep it there for a pre-determined amount of time. Which machine works best for you depends on your body and physical limitations.

If you have bad knees, the treadmill might make you want to die. Treadmills are very high impact on the knees, like running. Ellipticals, on the other hand, feature a smooth, elliptical orbit motion that doesn’t require your knees to be in top shape (most people’s aren’t). But they still get your heart rate up while strengthening you legs and gluts.

A gym membership offers the chance to try all the machines and see what works best for you. Some people even pay private trainers to evaluate their bodies and decide for them. Even if you plan on working out in a home gym, if you have little no experience with cardio and weight machines, a temporary gym membership may be the best way to discover what’s out there.

Also at a gym, you will get cardio variety. If two or three different machines work well for you, you can circuit through them so you don’t get bored with your workout.

Elliptical trainers, game bikes, stationary indoor bikes, recumbent bikes, stair climbers, steppers, treadmills, upright bikes and upper body ergonometers are all machines you will see at a good gym. They combine weight with resistance for strength training and mild-to-intense action to train your heart and lungs to have endurance and stamina.

Cardio is so important for many reasons. Here are a few:

• It's one of the best ways to burn calories and help you lose weight
• It makes your heart strong so that it doesn't have to work as hard to pump blood
• It increases your lung capacity
• It helps reduce risk of heart attack, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes
• It makes you feel good, sleep better, and reduce stress.

 

 

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