Best Exercises for a Healthy Heart

Sure, we always hear about how proper nutrition, regular exercises and low fat diets are recommended for those with or at risk for cardiovascular disease. However, when the same old advice is given time and time again, without really any specific instructions as to how to do them, or how to incorporate them into your life, such advise is inevitably pushed to the side. I'm giving you some of the same old, but believe me, here are some ones you may have never considered. Pick and choose as many as you like; the more varied your exercise routine, the more you can have fun with it (and persevere with it).
So, here are ten great, truly enjoyable exercises you can do for heart health.

1. Walk
Our ancestors have always done it; in fact, for naturalists, this is the workout of choice. It's easy on all joints, everyone of all ages can do it, and it's a very relaxing form of exercise. Plus, it's versatile; you can go as slow or as fast as you like.

2. Own and ride a bike
This is so much fun to do, and has become my primary mode of transportation. I don't even own a car. A bike gets me anywhere, it feels good (especially on a hot day, as it creates gusts of refreshing wind on its own) and I like the fact that I've started to master it. I ride up ramps, jump off high sidewalks, and do all kinds of tricks on it. Of course, watch out for cars, and try not to listen to music while you're cruising the streets (even though it's tempting, and to be honest, I still do it.)

3. Jog lightly on a treadmill or on a trail
The reason why I specify that you do this on a treadmill or on a trail is that this is easier on your knees and other joints. Run on hard concrete throughout the city (and without proper running shoes) and you'll find yourself hurting afterwards. I swear that I also get a more rewarding workout (emotional plus physical benefits) when I run through natural scenes. I feel more serene afterwards, as if I'd escaped to my own little world.

4. Swim
Water aerobics is both easy on the joints and soothing to the body.

5. Jump rope
This may bring you back to the days when you were just seven, lively and jump roped for fun.

6. Stay busy at work
Take frequent "physical breaks"; during which you leave your desk (or any other point of stationary working). Stretch a little, walk around the building some, or even make frequent trips to the cooler. This is all just to get away for a moment, and to get your body going. It doesn't feel good to stay sedentary all day long. In fact, it makes me both achy and grouchy.

7. Dance
This is the most fun way of staying in shape. Whether you dance freely in your own apartment, take belly dancing classes, or simply like to hit the clubs and groove to the latest hits, dancing works your heart, increases circulation and lowers blood pressure, all without feeling like work.

8. Play a recreational sport
By my house, there's this great park where people are often found playing soccer, volleyball, frisbee and other sports. This summer, I ate ice-cream everyday, and yet still stayed slim. Looking back, I thought, what did I do that brought on this miracle? Well, I played intense basketball at least once a week. And you know what? It didn't even feel like exercise at the time. I was having too much fun working on my dribble, slapping down the ball, committing fouls and missing all my shots. Actually, most of my focus was upon getting better, so that was motivation to play hard.

9. Go to a playground with a bunch of friends
This makes it feel like playtime. I did this one Friday after we'd been partying (and were bored by the scene): we simply decided to go to a playground to enjoy the stars. Within a half hour, we were all climbing the monkey bars, running around to get our next turn on the slide, and all in all acting like little tykes. It was a load of fun, it kept us laughing, which is absolutely great for the heart.

10. Visual exercises
Yes, try visual exercises. This may sound strange, but I've been reading about chakras recently (and am becoming quite a believer in it despite my hard science, skeptical self.) The color for the heart chakra is green, which brings peace to this area whenever I envision it. I've actually began to use these ideas when I exercise, and albeit the effects may be purely psychological, I notice a dramatic increase in my focus and concentration on specific body parts. Exercising with awareness is the best thing you can do for yourself: you'll both minimize injury and increase awareness of your body.