Cardio is hailed as one of the best types of workouts you can do for your overall health. No matter what your fitness goals are, cardio should be part of your exercise routine. That being said, if you’re planning on joining a bootcamp, you may not know what to expect.
Some of the best cardio exercises in bootcamp are basic workouts. They help build strength and flexibility. You’ll be able to push yourself further each session! Take a look at ten of the best cardio bootcamp workouts.
Jumping Jacks
Jumping jacks are commonly part of cardio bootcamps, even if they’re just the warmup. They are ideal for quickly elevating your heart rate and one of the best ways to condition your cardiovascular system. In addition, you can do this exercise at home as well without hurting your joints.
Squats
Squats are an important exercise for anyone working at a desk every day. When you’re sitting at a desk hour after hour, it’s easy for joints to become tight and weak. Squats may not look like the type of exercise that can increase your heart rate, but they do. They’ll also help to strengthen those weakened joints so you feel much stronger in your own body.
Lunges
It may look like a simple movement, but a lunge works on several different areas of your body at once. It’s a common muscle-strengthening exercise that can elevate your heart rate at the same time. If you’re attending a bootcamp, expect the unexpected. While you’re doing lunges, you may have to do a jump in between to get your heart rate up faster.
Burpees
If you’re new to cardio workouts, you might not be familiar with burpees. However, they are a fantastic way to improve your cardio conditioning. Start in a standing position with your feet about hip-width apart and squat down to the floor. Then, jump backward into a push-up position, ensuring that your body is straight. Jump your feet back to their original position and stand up. Continue doing repetitions with your group.
Mountain Climbers
They don’t call it bootcamp for nothing – it’s time to climb that mountain! Mountain climbers are considered high intensity, but they’re common in group bootcamps. They help to build muscle strength, cardio strength, and endurance.
Lower yourself to a push-up position and bring your left or right knee up to your chest, making sure your other foot is resting on the floor. Jump and change feet in the air. Alternate as quickly as you can for the time asked by your instructor.
Long Jumps
Long jumps are exactly as they sound. You jump as long as you can from one position and forward to the next. You’ll feel your core hard at work while doing this exercise, which will benefit your health immensely. You’ll also feel your heart gradually elevating with each jump.
This is an excellent group exercise because you can take it in turns. You’ll be able to cheer each other on as you go! The biggest disadvantage to this exercise is that the risk of injury can be increased. This is why it’s so important to exercise with a professional instructor.
Jogging With High Knees
Jogging or running are two highly efficient ways to increase your heart rate. Adding high knees is another way to increase the intensity and work different areas of your body. As you jog, lift your knees as high as you can. This will benefit your core and your quads, to name a few.
Front Kick Lunge
That’s right – it’s a lunge with a front kick thrown in for good measure. This is an excellent exercise if you want something to increase your heart rate. When you come up from your lunge, front kick before going back into another lunge. Keep repeating the exercise until you can feel your heart rate elevated.
Plyo Jacks
Also known as plyometric jumping jacks, they are the same as jumping jacks, but the squat is much deeper. Plyo jacks are much slower. However, they feel much harder to do. This exercise will challenge you in ways the others don’t and reach parts of your body you didn’t know you had.
Running on the Spot
This is a great exercise for warming up or cooling down. It’s ideal for increasing heart rate before other more intense workouts but can also help bring your heart rate down after those intense exercises.
The Bottom Line
Many individuals gauge their fitness level based on their physical appearance and exercise performance. However, the key to achieving maximum wellness is by monitoring your heart rate before, during, and after your workout sessions.
Let us support you in getting the most from every workout. Your local Fit Body Boot Camp will help you understand how best to exercise at the proper intensity to accomplish your health and fitness goals.
Come join us today at Fit Body Boot Camp!
