We all are concerned about our fitness at some time in our lives. Fitness is actually just the way we live and our lifestyle choices. Improving your Heart Health and fitness actually works in your favour. 

When you struggle to climb a few flights of stairs without getting breathless, it’s probably high time to think about improving your heart health. Being fit essentially means your heart is able to supply  enough oxygen to your tissues and muscles during physical activity. 

Tips on how to improve your heart health and fitness which you can include in your daily life.

1. Shake up your training schedule :

• If pumping iron and building muscle has been your main focus, it may be time to bring in some new exercises to improve your heart health and fitness.
• Although many daily exercises and activities are good for heart health and fitness, you should still be dedicating at least 10 minutes of your exercise routine to this area, especially if you only lift weights.
• These 10 minutes a day are part and parcel of the 150 minutes of aerobic exercise a week, recommended by the WHO and the NHS. Skipping, walking and running can all be included in your daily routine.

2. High intensity interval training :

• All set to step up your workout intensity? Did you know that only one minute of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) a day can improve the fitness levels of healthy but sedentary folk – and office workers, this means you too!
  Try training three times a week for six weeks and see what happens!

• You are probably saying one minute of exercise would not make a difference, right? But these exercises give results because HIIT is, as its name suggests, very intense.
• Interval training, where you alternate short bursts of high-intensity exercise with rest periods, can also be amazingly effective.
• But be careful! You might want to consult a professional before starting high-intensity training, particularly if you have some health issues.

3. Start circuit training :

• If you get bored out of your brains doing the same old exercises, we have just the answer for you: Circuit Training. When you alternate between lots of different exercises it gives your body a real workout. And better still, you can make it more enjoyable by training with a fellow fitness nut – a great way to motivate yourself and create accountability!

• Skipping, running on the spot? Squats or lifting weights are exercises that are often  featured in a circuit and can help improve your cardiovascular fitness.

4. Create personal goals :

• Remember those new year resolutions you made? How about putting them into practice? The trick is to give yourself realistic goals that are suited to your own needs and to what you like doing.
• You need to start from where you are in terms of your fitness levels, fitting the level of difficulty of the exercises to what you are used to.
• If you rush into it and your fitness levels are not up to scratch, you will end up tired and achy and will feel like giving up early on.
• And that’s definitely what we are not aiming for. We’ve all been there. So, to set yourself up for success, your goals should be aligned with your own fitness and routine. We believe in you. 

5. Stay consistent with cardio workouts 

• Always add some aerobic or cardio exercises into your routine. When you have achieved your goal and your fitness levels have improved, keep doing the exercises as a part of your routine for at least a few minutes a day.

• As well as bringing some cardio into your routine, your daily habits can be an important factor in contributing to cardiovascular fitness. You may not realise it but climbing stairs and stretching your legs often throughout the day will help you go further, literally. Motivated yet? Time to get that heart rate going!

But don’t forget, if you have any doubts or have any health issues, you might consider consulting a physiotherapist before starting a training routine. Then you can exercise safely and start smashing your goals with confidence.

Do consult us at Cura Advanced Physiotherapy Centers and Home Care Services to get a tailor made programme for your fitness that matches your current fitness level as well.