Cardio

Photos (clockwise from top left) courtesy of: Zach Hawkins of @catandzachphoto; Steven Freeman; L. Sasaki / Belmar 5 Miler; Gregg Bard / Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Becoming a runner has its advantages. Besides offering an activity you can do anywhere with just a pair of sneakers (and perhaps a friend …

Photo: Pond5 Think of high-intensity interval training (aka HIIT workouts) — where you alternate short bursts of intense exercise and active recovery time — as the workout gift that keeps on giving. First, it’s designed to burn more calories and fat in less time, giving you that excuse-squashing way to …

Photo: Courtesy of Justin Patterson When was the last time you jump roped? If it was as a kid during class recess, now’s a good time to get back into the rhythm of things. The jump rope is not only a fun workout to turn up the sweat, it’s also …

Photo: Twenty20 Science and experts alike say high-intensity interval workouts reign as fitness royalty. Touted as a top-notch method for weight loss, improving your VO2 max and even helping you run faster, it’s no wonder this approach to exercise holds such high wellness honors. Of course, just like any workout …

Photo: Pond5 Resistance training and cardio exercise can indeed co-exist. In fact, blending them together creates the ideal time-saving gym session. All you have to do is make a few intensity-amplifying tweaks to your existing strength workout and it can drive up your heart rate, burn more calories and improve …

Photo: Courtesy of 305 Fitness You’ve heard of yoga flows — but this Vinyasa sequence will get you moving like never before. Thanks to the rock stars behind the dance club-style workout studio 305 Fitness, your same-old yoga routine is about to get hit with some serious swagger. That’s because …

Photo courtesy of Fhitting Room When you think of a killer cardio workout, hoofin’ it on the treadmill or cranking out reps on the elliptical might come to mind. But you don’t always need a machine to turn up your heart rate and put calorie-crushing on full blast. Bust out …

Photo: Pond5 If you’ve ever taken a HIIT or running class, chances are the instructor will ask you to wear a heart rate monitor. Why? The range of your heart rate throughout your workout puts a number to the intensity of the exercise and how hard your body is working. …

Photo: Twenty20 Imagine learning exactly how your muscles fire as you run. Whether one side activates more than the other — telling you the likelihood of future injuries, where they might occur and what kind. Or, think about objectively learning your strengths and weaknesses in terms of acceleration, deceleration, balance …

Photos (clockwise from top left) courtesy of: Resident Runners, Akron Running Dog, A Tribe Called Big D, Brighton Bangers You get your daily coffee fix from the best bulletproof spot on the block, and when it comes to workout apparel, your opaque-leggings-only standards are sky-high. And these days, you can …