5 Heart Pumping Cardio Moves

Cardio is any type of exercise that gets your heart rate up and keeps it up for a while. This delivers more oxygen throughout your muscles and body, releasing natural endorphins. Overall, it keeps your heart and lungs strong and healthy.

Our top 5 heart pumping cardio exercises are:

1. Side Body Squats

Start in a wide stance with your toes pointed out. Bring your hands behind your head with your elbows wide. Bend your knees over your toes, coming into a squat with your thighs almost parallel to the floor. As you straighten your knees to stand, lift your right knee while bending to the right. Bring your right elbow and knee together, doing a side crunch. Straighten your spine as you bring your right foot to the floor. Bend both knees, coming back into a squat. Repeat for 20 seconds, alternating legs.

2. High Knees

Start with your feet hip-width apart, with a slight bend in your knees, Bring your left knee up towards your chest in a marching motion, With a slight spring in your step switch to lift your right, knee to your chest, Continue this movement, alternating legs and speed up the pace if you can to either a jog, run or sprint, Aim to drive your knees as high as possible, keeping your spine neutral, chest up and core braced throughout

3. Squat Jacks

Start with your hands by your side and your feet together, Jump your feet out slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and lift your arms above your head, Now drop down into a squat position, before exploding out of the squat back into a jack, Continue to repeat for the recommended time or reps.

4. Burpees

The burpee is the ultimate full-body cardio exercise that burns plenty of calories, builds strength and will have you panting and sweating in no time. Stand tall with your feet, shoulder-width apart.
Squat down bending your knees placing your hands flat on the floor in front of you. Transfer your weight to your hands and push and jump your feet back. You should now be in a push up position with your back nice and straight. Complete a push up by lowering your body to the floor. Push up from your hands and when on the balls of your feet, jump forward so your feet are back to the original position. At that point reach up straight with your arms and jump up. Land back to your feet shoulder-width apart for one rep. Complete 10 reps for one set and attempt to complete 2–3 sets.

5. Rowing

Often underestimated, our humble rowing machine can help you to get your cardiovascular exercises in and not only does rowing help to build cardio strength it is also great for working the upper body and toning the arms.

Our top quality rowing machines have different training programmes, with the tougher choices offering high resistance so you need your full strength to pull back. Start out low and build up your strength with rowing, one of the main benefits of this workout is that is can be short and sweet!