3 Reasons To Add Low Impact Cardio Into Your Workout Routine

Here are three reasons why you should consider working low impact cardio into your routine.

It's no secret that the more intense your workout is, the more likely you are to get injured. That's not to say that you shouldn't do intense workouts—when done safely, they can be super effective! But the fact is, low impact cardio puts less stress on your joints and muscles, while also allowing you to get a great workout in. Think about the last spin class you were in: Was it hard? Yeah, probably. The difference is that on a spin bike, your knees aren't pounding against the ground like they are when you do a higher impact exercise like running. Low impact cardiovascular exercise also tends to cause less inflammation in your body (because you aren't doing as much damage to your muscles), which means you can tackle your next hardcore workout without injury.

We've been taught to think that HIIT is the only way to boost our metabolism—but it's not. You can indeed still boost your metabolism by doing low impact cardio1. Your heart rate still increases during low impact workouts, your muscles are still working hard, and you're still expending energy and calories to make it happen. Not to mention, doing more difficult workouts all the time can leave the body feeling fatigued or sore. If you work low impact workouts into your routine, you reap the benefits of exercising often without constantly putting stress on your body—so you'll be able to do those intense workouts at an even higher intensity, which will boost your metabolism even more.

So, when should you do low impact workouts? It depends on your body! I usually tell clients that they should get a good low impact workout in once a week to help with their muscle recovery. They're best to incorporate before or after a rest day! Remember, low impact workouts should be used in conjunction with your other workouts—mixing up your routine will keep your body guessing, and that's the best way to hit your fitness goals and keep you in tip-top health.