"It’s important to train at different intensity levels for different lengths of time.” “Walking and running both produce many cardiorespiratory benefits," says Stonehouse. Ready for a pleasant surprise? It totally is, if not even better. Whether you’re an avid marathoner or consider running a form of torture, you're not the only one who's wondered if walking is as effective as pounding pavement.
Is walking as good of a cardio workout as running, though? In addition to supporting your heart and strengthening your lungs, research shows that walking can also boost your overall energy and immune function, according to Stonehouse.Īlso important, though: Walking is a leisure activity you can do on your own to clear your head, spend time with your pet, or be distant, but social, with other people-all of which can be seriously relaxing. Yep, just five, 30-minute walks a week can go a long way for your health. The biggest perk of getting your stroll on: 150 minutes (or two-and-a-half hours) of moderate-intensity cardio per week significantly reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease, per the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. "With the right speeds and inclines, you could reach any of them with walking." (In fact, STRIDE often builds walking intervals into its tread workouts.) What are the benefits of walking? “There are many different training intensity levels that fall in the category of ‘cardio,’" Stonehouse says. Since cardio pretty much encompasses all low-intensity and moderate-intensity exercise, your strolls around the neighborhood, hilly hikes, and power walks all fit the bill. Good news for anyone out there who hates running: “Walking can definitely count as cardio,” says Stonehouse.
DOES BRISK WALKING COUNT AS CARDIO PRO
Here's what to know about why walking totally counts as cardio-plus pro tips for making it an effective part of your exercise routine. “Cardiorespiratory activity can help improve heart and lung conditions-and it definitely doesn’t have to be a super-sweaty situation,” says Stonehouse. In fact, you can reap the benefits without maxing out your muscles at all. (You've also heard it referred to as " aerobic exercise.")Īny low- to moderate-intensity exercise is considered aerobic, which means you don't have to go all-out to get a good cardio workout. I mean, cardio has to be high-exertion and super sweaty, right? Or is walking cardio after all?įirst, let me clarify: Cardio-short for “cardiorespiratory” activity-refers to physical activity that relies on your circulatory and respiratory systems to supply oxygen to your working muscles, explains Steve Stonehouse, CPT, director of education for the running studio STRIDE. When I think of walking for cardio, I picture Jane Fonda-vibes outfits (hello, brightly-colored, high-cut Spandex and sweatbands), wrist and ankle weights, and wildly pumping arms.
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