3 Best Types of Low-Impact Exercise to Get You Into Shape
While we would all love to be healthy and fit, intense workouts are out of the question for many people. However, there are types of low-impact exercises that are safe for nearly everyone. So, if your doctor doesn’t explicitly forbid you from any of the following activities, you can try these workouts to get fit, lose weight, and overall boost your wellbeing. Remember, exercising regularly does not only reshape your body but also makes you healthier in every way.
Swimming
Swimming is the go-to exercise for recuperating athletes and this alone shows how beneficial it can be. In fact, it’s one of the healthiest types of exercise in existence, read more about this here. So, swimming some laps is a great way to get into shape and even get a “safe” cardio workout.
Swimming in a swimming pool is not only good for your upper body and back, in particular. It’ll help strengthen your cardiovascular system. And it’s great fun! Everyone can learn how to swim and you don’t have to train up to a pro athlete’s level in technique to get benefits from this workout.
Pilates
Pilates is often underestimated as a type of workouts. But it’s actually a kind of low-impact exercise that can produce results comparable to high-impact workouts. The best thing about it is the flexibility of intensity. Because Pilates exercises can be easily adapted to anyone on any level, it’s often used as a type of physiotherapy, click here for more info. It can also be used to strengthen specific muscle groups. This makes it a great exercise for targeting “problem areas” when you are trying to lose weight.
The main areas of focus for Pilates workouts are core strength, flexibility, and strengthening the back. They also help one improve control and balance, much like yoga does. There are many specific positions that can be used to build up your strength using nothing but your own weight. And once you progress, you’ll be able to up the intensity of the same exercises with additional weights, elastic bands, and other fitness tools. Therefore, Pilates is the kind of workout that can truly fit everyone.
Please, be advised that if you are recovering from an injury or have some specific health concerns, you should consult a doctor first. You should also have your Pilates workout plan designed by a physiotherapy professional, who can work with your doctor.
Zumba
If you thought that Zumba is nothing but a silly dancing-based technique, you thought wrong. There’s actual evidence that proves the efficiency of these workouts as low-impact aerobic exercise, see it here. Also, it’s fun, and exercise should be fun, especially for beginners. The more joy you get from your workouts, the less chance there is that you’ll stop them.
Zumba will get your body fired up, but without the intensity of a cardio workout. It’s also not so demanding on technique as dancing classes. Moreover, this type of exercise is extremely flexible. There are specialized Zumba classes for beginners and the elderly, and even children. You can do it together as a family or find more specialized workouts that will help improve your muscle tone or reshape your lower body. There is also Aqua-Zumba you should try. In fact, combine it with your swimming classes for maximum effect and minimal impact on the joints!
There’s Low-Impact Exercise for Everyone
Remember, every type of low-impact exercise can be practiced even by complete beginners. It would be hard at first, but doing even a little every day will get you closer to your desired fitness level. And this won’t cause any major health issues, like the ones that might occur if you try for intense HIIT training right off the get-go.
But do talk to a doctor if you have any health problems!