Did you know you can enjoy the benefits of the best at-home cardio workouts right in your living room? Cardiovascular exercise (also known as aerobic exercise) is any move that uses large muscle groups, raises your heart rate, and is continuous and rhythmic.
Cardio has tremendous health benefits and is necessary for staying healthy, increasing your longevity, and preventing chronic diseases.
Keep reading to discover six benefits of at-home cardio exercise, how to kick off your routine, and score a bonus cardio workout.
Benefits of At-Home Cardio Exercises
The word ‘cardio’ comes from the Greek word kardia, which means heart. And indeed, that’s the organ that benefits the most from cardio exercise—and those benefits are significant–but they don’t stop there. Keep reading to learn six significant benefits of cardio exercise.
Decrease Your Risk of Heart Disease
Numerous studies have shown that regular participation in aerobic exercise significantly decreases your risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) and dying.
Improve Your Cholesterol Profile
Cardio also increases your good cholesterol–High-density lipoprotein or HDL High HDL levels are associated with a decreased risk of heart disease.
While you want a high HDL, you want a low, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides. Cardio exercise also helps lower these unhealthy cholesterol components, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Prevent Cardiac Remodeling
One of the most fascinating benefits of cardio is its role in preventing cardiac remodeling. Cardiac remodeling is a process that occurs after the heart has been damaged and results in structural changes to the heart tissue.
These changes often lead to a thickening of the heart muscle, causing it to become stiff and reducing its ability to pump blood effectively. Regular aerobic exercise can slow this process.
Decrease Your Risk of Chronic Conditions
Additionally, ample research has demonstrated that regular aerobic exercise dramatically reduces your risk of experiencing a stroke, heart attack, or developing diabetes and many types of cancers.
Boost Your Mood
Studies have also shown that aerobic exercise can increase mood for those with and without mood disorders. And the best part is that you can enjoy these health benefits with as little as 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity cardio exercise.
Aid in Fat Loss
Cardio is a vital component to include in your training program if your goal is to change how your body looks and lose body fat. Cardio helps to burn calories, improve your fitness, and help you recover from your strength training sessions.
Fight Aging
Lastly, one of the most impressive benefits of cardio exercise is its role in our longevity. Regular physical activity, including cardio, helps us live better and longer.
The many benefits of cardio exercise include the following:
- Reverses or prevents cardiovascular disease
- Increases your good cholesterol (HDL)
- Decreases your bad cholesterol (LDL)
- Stunts cardiac remodeling
- Reduces your risk for chronic conditions
- Decreases your blood pressure
- Boosts your mood
- Helps with fat loss
- Fights aging
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An Intro to the Best At-Home Cardio Workouts
To plan your cardio exercises at home, you’ll need to understand the many different cardio exercises and workout styles available. So let’s dive into the three main types of cardio: low-intensity steady state, moderate-intensity steady state, and high-intensity interval training.
Low-intensity Steady-state Cardio (LISS)
By far, the most underrated form of cardio is LISS. Walking or riding a bike at a leisurely pace are examples of LISS and are an excellent way to raise your heart rate and increase your total calories burned in a less intense way than other cardio choices.
LISS cardio sustains your heart rate around 100-130 beats per minute (bpm) or 50-70% of your maximum heart rate.
Other forms of LISS cardio include hiking, slow swimming, rowing, or any cardio machine at a slow, steady pace. Because this type of cardio is very low in intensity, you will need to work out much longer to achieve the same calorie burn as other options, as you will see.
Moderate-intensity Steady-state Cardio (MISS)
The most common type of cardio workout is MISS. This cardio intensity is an excellent middle ground that provides many of the benefits of cardio in a way that is much shorter in duration than LISS and less intense than HIIT.
Your target heart rate for MISS cardio is 140-160 bpm. You can achieve MISS cardio with any of the LISS exercises performed faster.
High-intensity Interval Training Cardio (HIIT)
HIIT training has become all the rage due to its efficiency, intensity, and superior results. HIIT classes like Tabata and Insanity are popular for a good reason.
HIIT cardio offers significant cardiovascular benefits, unbeatable calorie burn, and boost fitness levels in as few as twenty minutes.
Traditional HIIT workouts focus on cardio moves, such as running or cycling, and alternate periods of near-maximum effort, with short periods of recovery. You can get a HIIT workout at home or outside or try a class at your local gym or Crossfit box.
Getting Started with Cardio Workouts at Home
Now that you understand the importance of cardio and the options available, how do you choose which type of cardio for your at-home workouts? Here are a few questions to consider when crafting your workout program.
Do you have any injuries or chronic health conditions? Or take any medications that have notable side effects? If you do, don’t panic. Just check in with your doctor before starting a cardio exercise program.
If you’re interested in higher-intensity exercise in particular, you’ll want to be cleared by a physician and start slowly.
Do you enjoy intense exercise? While this may seem obvious, it can be easy to get carried away when a particular exercise gets popular. CrossFit and HIIT are great, but they’re not required to get fit, lose weight, or shed body fat.
Find a movement you enjoy, and you’re more likely to stick with it, which is the healthiest plan in the long run.
Do you have equipment at home? While many at-home cardio options don’t require equipment, if you have bands or dumbbells, it will increase the variety of exercises available to you. So, take stock and choose your workout accordingly.
Choose Your Intensity
Once you sort out the essentials, the next step in designing your home cardio workout program is selecting the intensity. If you have injuries, chronic health conditions, or take medicines that make you feel dizzy or lightheaded, you should check with your healthcare provider before starting any exercise program.
Find Something You Enjoy
After that, what matters most is finding a cardio exercise and intensity that you enjoy. Most people combine LISS, MISS, or HIIT with strength training to keep their program exciting and fun, but you only need to choose what appeals to you.
Take it Slow
Take it slow whenever you start a new workout program or return from a hiatus. It can be easy to get frustrated when you have to take it down a notch. Still, you’re most likely to get injured during this period, so be cautious and increase intensity and duration methodically.
Stay Flexible
To achieve the recommended 150 weekly minutes of moderate-intensity cardio, you could do five 30-minute or two 60-minute sessions plus one 30-minute session. However, you reach 150 minutes–just get moving!
Remember: the best exercise program is the one you stick with.
Best At-Home Cardio Workouts to Maximize Your Fitness
Here is a list of some of the easiest cardio exercises to do from home. Remember that you can dial up or down the intensity for each movement to achieve low-intensity, moderate-intensity, or high-intensity steady-state cardio at home.
Dance
Honestly, dance is an underrated form of exercise that will get your heart pumping and put a smile on your face. With so many different options and great instructional videos available on the internet, you’ll never be bored.
Stream a Cardio Class
If you love group classes but don’t want to leave home, there are countless fitness classes that you can stream from apps such as Future. There are also thousands of free videos available on YouTube you can try. So your at-home cardio class options are endless.
Kickboxing
Kickboxing is a training exercise that boxers and other fight sport athletes use to practice their punching combinations and footwork that also is a great cardio workout that engages your core. It involves punching and quickly moving your feet around the room like you’re fighting an imaginary opponent.
If you’re interested in kickboxing, check out our article on Best Kickboxing Workouts at Home.
Bodyweight Circuit
If you’re crunched for time and want to get a cardio and strength workout in, bodyweight circuits are an excellent way to get all those benefits in one efficient session. See the list below for ideas to construct your bodyweight circuit.
Bodyweight Exercises
- Planks
- Squats
- Jogging in Place
- Lunges
- Glute Bridge
- Toe Touches
- Push-ups
- Lateral Leg Raises
- Dead Bugs
- Bird Dogs
- Fire Hydrants
- Kickbacks
- Bear Holds
Higher Impact & Higher Intensity Bodyweight Exercises
- Squat Jumps
- Burpees
- Skater Hops
- Lunge Jumps
- High Knees
- Mountain Climbers
- Box Jumps
- Jumping Jacks
Lower Intensity Bodyweight Circuit
Repeat Circuit 3-5 times, rest 1-2 minutes between circuits
| Exercise | Repetitions | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Squat | 60 seconds | 15 seconds |
| Jumping Jacks | 60 seconds | 15 seconds |
| Push-ups | 60 seconds | 15 seconds |
| Superman | 60 seconds | 15 seconds |
| V-ups | 60 seconds | 15 seconds |
Higher Intensity Bodyweight Circuit
Repeat Circuit 3-5 times, rest 1-2 minutes between circuits
| Exercise | Repetitions | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Squat Jumps | 30 seconds | 15 seconds |
| Skater Hops | 30 seconds | 15 seconds |
| Mountain Climbers | 30 seconds | 15 seconds |
| Bear Hold | 30 seconds | 15 seconds |
| Plank | 30 seconds | 15 seconds |
Jump Rope
Jumping rope is an excellent form of cardio that will jack your heart quickly and can easily be done at home. This cardio option qualifies as MISS or HIIT depending on your intensity.
Bonus Cardio Options
Walking, Hiking, Running
While not technically ‘at-home,’ running outside is another highly portable cardio option that you can do that doesn’t require a gym membership or equipment. All you need is a good pair of shoes, and you’re off. However, if you don’t like being out of breath or are simply looking for a less intense variation, walking, and hiking are lovely alternatives.
Best Apps for At-Home Cardio to Enhance Your Routine
Cardio workouts are essential for your at-home exercise routine, and with the rise of fitness apps, it's easier than ever to get in a good sweat session. Plus, many fitness apps offer community features that enable you to connect with other users and share your progress. Here are three of the top platforms for live and on-demand cardio classes and workouts.
Peloton App
The Peloton App is designed for non-Peloton equipment users and includes three membership tiers: Peloton App Free, Peloton App One ($12.99/month), and Peloton App+ ($24/month). At-home cardio workouts include machine-based classes for running, walking, cycling, and rowing.
You can use a Peloton cardio machine or your own bike, treadmill, or rower. No-equipment cardio classes include HIIT, dance, shadowboxing, and more.
Peloton
Best for at-home guided workouts
Peloton is one of the most comprehensive and affordable online fitness platforms. With access to live and on-demand programming and classes, coupled with state-of-the-art equipment, Peloton stand ahead of the rest.
30-day Home Trial
Peloton Bike Rental Program
Various Equipment to suit your preference
App that works with and without equipment
obé Fitness App
obé Fitness offers classes designed for all fitness levels, ranging in duration from 5 to 60 minutes. You’ll get live and on-demand classes for strength, cardio, yoga, dance, Pilates, barre, meditation, prenatal and postnatal, and more, for $24.99 per month.
Cardio classes include HIIT, dance HIIT, dance cardio, boxing, bounce (trampoline-based), jump, step, endurance, and ride (cycling).
Nike Training Club App
We always like to include a free option when curating best-of lists. The Nike Training Club app is completely free and packed full of on-demand workouts and live classes for strength training, mobility, yoga, and cardio.
Bottom Line
We all need cardio exercise to stay healthy, and it’s easy to get a great workout at home. Regular cardio exercise has many benefits, including strengthening your heart, lowering your blood pressure, boosting your mood, and preventing chronic diseases.
There are many ways to break a sweat and get your heart racing from home but no matter which cardio exercise you choose, shoot for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio exercise each week and get moving.
FAQs About Cardio At Home
How can someone measure the intensity of their cardio workout when exercising at home?
Measuring your intensity can help you stay on track, avoid plateauing, and make your workout more efficient.
While it may seem like one more thing to keep track of, it’s actually quite easy to monitor how hard you’re working while doing cardio.
The quickest and probably most accurate, is with a heart rate monitor or fitness tracker. You can also manually take your pulse at your wrist or neck.
Another way of measuring intensity is with the talk test. For example, during moderate-intensity exercise, you should be able to carry on a conversation but not carry on a tune. During vigorous-intensity exercise, you should be able to say a few words but not hold a full conversation.
You can use the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale or RPE, a subjective measure of how hard you feel you're working. It ranges from 6 (no exertion at all) to 20 (maximal exertion). Aim for an RPE between 12-16 for moderate to vigorous intensity workouts.
What's the optimal duration for a home cardio workout to maximize fat loss and cardiovascular health?
The length of your at-home cardio sessions will depend on your current fitness level, available time, and workout type.
If your goal is overall cardiovascular health, aim for a minimum of 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise, which is any activity that gets your heart rate up but still enables you to carry on a light conversation.
You can spread the 150 minutes out over five days for 30 minutes each session, or if you’re new to exercise, start with shorter workouts and gradually increase the duration and intensity as you get fitter. Another alternative is to swap a few longer sessions for one or two HIIT workouts a week of at least 20 minutes.
If you’re looking to maximize fat loss, you may want to increase the total amount of time, incorporate resistance training, and consider making modifications to your diet. Fat loss requires a combination of both exercise and nutrition.
What are some effective warm-up and cool-down routines for at-home cardio workouts?
Your at-home cardio workouts should include more than just the work period. You also need to bookend your session with a good warmup and cool-down.
The warmup should take about 5 to 10 minutes with the goal of gradually increasing your heart rate and body temperature, and preparing your muscles for more strenuous activity.
Some good warm-up activities include light cardio such as walking or jogging in place or jumping jacks and a few dynamic stretches like arm circles, leg swings, and hip circles.
More Cardio Advice from GymBird Experts
- What is Cardio?
- Cardio for Beginners
- Best Cardio Workouts
- 5 Cardio Workouts at Home
- Cardio Workouts for Runners
- Cardio with Weights
- Cardio vs HIIT
- Cardio vs. Walking
- How to Avoid Cardio Injuries
- Is Cardio Aerobic or Anaerobic?
- Top Cardio Benefits
At the end of your workout, allow for about a 5 to 10-minute cool-down to help your body gradually return to its resting state. You can finish your workout with some light cardio, such as walking, and add a few static stretches such as hamstring stretches, quadriceps stretches, and calf stretches.
Resources
- World Journal of Cardiology. Aerobic vs anaerobic exercise training effects on the cardiovascular system.
- Canadian Medical Association Journal. Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence.
- Frontiers in Physiology. Aerobic Exercise Combination Intervention to Improve Physical Performance Among the Elderly: A Systematic Review.
- Current Behavioral Neuroscience Reports. Physical Exercise for Treatment of Mood Disorders: A Critical Review.
- Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine. Health Benefits of Exercise.’
- CDC. How much physical activity do adults need?
- UpToDate. Patient education: High cholesterol and lipids (Beyond the Basics).
- CDC. Physical Activity Prevents Chronic Disease.
- Cardiovascular Research. Aerobic exercise reduces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and increases contractility, Ca2+ sensitivity and SERCA-2 in rat after myocardial infarction.
- Brazilian Archives of Cardiology. Cardiac Remodeling: Concepts, Clinical Impact, Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Pharmacologic Treatment.
- Annals of Internal Medicine. Effect of aerobic exercise on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials.
- Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care. Which type of exercise keeps you young?
