Best Outdoor Activities to Improve Cardio

The best kinds of activities for improving cardiovascular endurance are those that elevate your heart rate and keep it elevated for a sustained amount of time. We’re all aware of how important regular exercise is for our mental and physical wellbeing, so it’s important that we try and incorporate it in a way that is easy to keep up with. To strengthen your heart, burn fat, and improve blood flow, here are some of the best outdoor activities to improve cardio.

Walking

While walking may be an exercise that burns fewer calories when compared to others, it’s a great exercise for us all, especially as we can do it anywhere and anytime. To get the best results, it’s important to walk fast which can help improve your cardio. There are numerous health benefits that you can gain from regular walking, such as reducing your risk of a stroke and heart disease, as well as strengthening bones, improving balance, and improving high cholesterol.

Swimming

Swimming is another activity that many people tend to overlook. Swimming can be a great way to improve your cardio, as long as you are doing it at a high enough intensity. In the summer months, many people take trips to the lake, so if you can find a nice clean lake near where you are staying, going for a swim can be the perfect way to get your cardio in. Swimming can keep your heart rate up, build endurance, as well as many other health benefits.

Riding a Bike

If you’re serious about improving your cardio fitness, riding a bike can be another great activity to try out. To get the full benefits, you will need to cycle at a brisk pace. If you ride slower than 10mph, you will find that you won’t burn as many calories. Speeds of 10mph or more will see your heart rate climb, as well as your muscles beginning to demand more energy and oxygen. Your respiratory and cardiovascular systems will respond to your cycling, helping to improve your endurance and fitness.

Kayaking

Some of the main health benefits that you can receive from kayaking not only include improvement in your cardio fitness, but an increase in muscle, torso, and leg strength too. To power a kayak, you will need to rotate your torso and apply pressure with your legs, which can be a great way to get your heart pumping. Also, you can burn up to 500 calories an hour, so if you are in the great outdoors and enjoy watersports, kayaking can be a fun activity to improve your cardio.

Rollerblading

When the summer months finally come around, another great cardio activity that you can do is rollerblading. When done correctly, rollerblading can strengthen your quads and be just as good for your health as running. Rollerblading builds up all your upper leg and lower back muscles. To reduce the risk of injury, you will need to maintain your balance and control at all times.

Hiking

If you love exploring the great outdoors and climbing mountains, hiking may be the perfect activity to improve cardio. For those who don’t enjoy running, hiking can give you a fantastic workout, especially if you are using hiking poles. To get the most benefits out of hiking, make sure that you pick an area that has several hills which can help to work your glutes, quads, and calves.

The main benefits of cardiovascular exercise are to help strengthen your lungs and heart. Weight loss, weight maintenance, reducing stress levels, and decreasing body fat are just some of the additional benefits that you can gain from cardio exercises. With a wide variety of activities to pick from, you’re bound to find one that you enjoy.