Easy Low-Impact Exercises

Everyone needs to incorporate exercise into their daily routine. Exercise can improve your mood, stamina and overall health. It increases your energy level and is also a great stress reliever! Many people are unable to perform high-impact aerobics or other strenuous exercises due to health considerations such as arthritis or pregnancy. There are plenty of great low-impact exercises that are easy to do and will help get you into shape.

Just because you are unable to perform high-intensity aerobics does not mean you should not exercise. Low-impact exercise means than you always have one foot on the ground at all times. You can still get a great work-out with many low-impact exercises. Exercise is part of an overall health plan, along with a healthy diet and plenty of rest that will help improve your lifestyle.

Walking

What are some great low-impact exercises? Try walking. That's right, I said walking. Almost anyone can walk and it can be great exercise. Try speeding up your pace if you are physically able to add more intensity to the workout and to increase the heart rate. Swinging the arms will also add a more intensity to the pace of the workout.

If you are often unable to get outside or in bad weather, try treadmill walking. You most often can adjust the pace to slow or fast, depending upon the level of intensity you desire. Remember, the faster you walk, the more calories you burn!

Swimming

Swimming is great exercise and is an excellent way to tone up the muscles. Swimming can be an all-over body workout and increasing the pace of your stroke also adds to the intensity of your workout and the amount of calories you burn. Swimming can also be a gentle exercise for those trying to avoid straining injured ankles or knees. Many people who are unable to do other exercise, find they are able to tolerate swimming well. Of course, it is also a very enjoyable and refreshing activity.

Cycling

Cycling is a great low-impact exercise that can also be high intensity, depending upon your pace. The lower body muscles and cardiovascular system get a great workout with cycling. Fifteen minutes of cycling a day can help you reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Cycling is also very enjoyable and an excellent way to enjoy the scenery.

Yoga

Yoga is also an excellent low-impact exercise. Yoga focuses on your general well-being through correct posturing and breathing exercises. You will find your flexibility start to improve with Yoga as you begin the stretching exercises. Many people find that Yoga meditation exercises are very beneficial in reducing stress levels.

Originally published on Factoidz

Sources:

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/Lowimpact.aspx

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/fitness-basics-swimming-is-for-everyone

http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/12641/exercising_and_running/health_benefits_of_cycling_15_minutes_a_day.html

http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/beginnersguide/yogabenefits.asp