Cardiovascular exercise is the best way to keep our hearts strong. We use dumbbells to help our skeletal muscles develop, and we use aerobic exercise to help us build strong hearts. Cardiovascular exercise, “Cardio”, is any activity that elevates our heart rate for an extended period of time.  

The goal for each individual is to get at least 150 minutes of exercise per week. This exercise should be moderate in intensity with added variety. Cardio includes walking, running, swimming, bicycling, skiing, ice skating… the possibilities are endless! However, the best exercise is the kind you enjoy doing. Begin forming habits that encourage you to continue.

Moderate intensity exercise should be a 5-7 on a scale of 1-10. While exercising, you should be able to talk, but you can’t sing. This is a great way to gauge intensity. Continue adding 5 minutes of activity per week to your exercise routine until you’ve reached 30 minutes of continuous activity. 

Have fun!​