How To Get In Shape Without Doing Cardio

Running is the OG of the exercise world. However, not everyone has a love affair with traditional cardio — things like running and jogging. Personally, I never got the appeal of either activity. However, many fitness gurus swear by traditional cardio as a necessity. If you're like me in this regard, then I have great news for you. There are tons of other ways to raise your heartbeat and get in excellent shape without resorting to running or jogging. Full body workouts aren't exclusive to running for miles on end. There are other ways to achieve the health benefits of traditional cardio without spending time on the treadmill.

To be honest, I'm envious of those who can put on a pair of sneakers and take off running. I'm just not that type of person. To me, running anywhere seems like a personal form of torture. I'd rather do something a little more engaging when I'm working out. When looking into other ways to gain the health benefits of cardio, I found loads of workouts out there that are just as impactful. While not all of these may raise your heart rate like traditional cardio, I promise you will feel the burn while working out. Wondering what some of these workouts might be? Here are a few exercise ideas that can get you in shape without resorting to traditional cardio.

1. Paddleboard

Want to both get in crazy good shape and get outside? Paddleboarding is totally for you! This exercise is a full-body workout. Trust me, you'll feel muscles working that you didn't even know you had. Paddleboarding is a great choice for those who want to get a total workout without doing traditional cardio.

2. Pilates

I absolutely swear by Pilates! The variety of movements and motions targets your muscle groups and blasts away any fat. By using your own body strength to challenge your muscles, you're definitely going to be working up a sweat. You can even do it from home — no gym membership required.

3. Yoga

It may sound crazy, but you can definitely work up a sweat when doing yoga. It's is a great way to straighten and stretch your muscles, not to mention a great way to get into shape. There is a reason that most celebrities swear by yoga — it works! This exercise routine gives you long, lean muscles, and burns away fat. Why would you ever hop onto a treadmill again when you can stretch out on a yoga mat?

4. Boxing And/Or Kickboxing

Looking for a way to increase your heart rate and get to sweating? Boxing is absolutely for you. You're working a lot of your core muscles groups when working with a punching bag. Not only is this a great way to let off some steam, but it's also a great alternative for traditional cardio.

5. Kettlebell

Kettlebell squats are everything. A few reps with a kettlebell will absolutely have you sweating. Basically, the weighted ball adds resistance and strength training to traditional workouts. Incorporate the ball into your normal routine and you'll see incredible results. Who doesn't love that?

6. Circuit Training

Most gym rats swear by this. Circuit training is when you do quick reps of many different types of workouts back-to-back. Think of it this way: 10 squats, 10 push-ups, 10 crunches, repeat. By constantly moving, and constantly changing your targeted muscle group, you're in for an intense workout. No running required!

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