It all counts: The benefits of mini workouts
It’s hard to make time for a regular workout.
You may travel to a gym or community center. If classes are your thing, you have to work around the schedule. Simple bike rides, walks or jogs around your neighborhood require an allowance of time. Even minutes spent on travel and changing into your gear add up. Perhaps you “make time” by getting up early or sacrificing precious minutes with your family for your fitness. But it can feel like a losing proposition.
Physical movement improves your health, so choosing any regular activity will do you good. But you don’t have to spend hours doing it.
In fact, just 10 minutes of activity here and there can improve your health and add life to your years. Consider:
Walking either outside or on a treadmill. Pump up your results by wearing wrist weights or carrying water bottles in each hand while you walk.
Dancing is one of the easiest quick hits of fitness. Put on a mix that pumps you up, and after three songs, you’re done. Remember, the higher you lift your legs and arms, the more effective your workout will be.
Body weight circuits can work your full body, resulting in improvement in strength and cardiovascular fitness with no equipment necessary. Do 10-25 pushups, a minute of marching in place, 25-40 squats and then a plank for a count of 20. Do it three to four times, and your 10 minutes are up.
HIIT (high-intensity interval training) uses short bursts of intense effort combined with periods of rest.1
Remember, all movement is good for you. Mini workouts prove that sometimes less can be more.
Before starting any new exercise routine, talk to your doctor to make sure it’s safe.
1https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8294064/#sec2-ijerph-18-07201
2https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/healtharticle.10-minute-hiit-workouts
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This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.