|
||
|
Cardio is an incredible new, innovative way to strengthen your heart and lungs. What it does is use concepts from ballet and yoga in fluid, graceful patterns that keep you moving continuously for thirty minutes of cardiovascular exercise. But you don't have to worry that it's anything like traditional low-impact aerobics! Those classes use music at 140 to 155 beats per minute—way too fast for most of us. Cardio works at 110 to 118 beats per minute. You get a maximum workout with a minimum of stress. A typical Cardio program consists of a ten-minute warm-up and stretch section, followed by a twenty-minute workout section, and then a half hour of regular cardio. The movements are all flowing, slow, and controlled, so they're easy to keep doing. You'll be warmed up so you won't have to worry about injuries, and you'll be using a full range of motion, which means you use more muscle and burn more calories. Compared to a traditional low-impact aerobic session, Cardio has a much lower impact on your body. As you know from reading about osteoporosis, impact is not necessarily a bad thing. It increases bone density, strengthens tendons and ligaments, and makes your muscles more resilient. This helps improve posture and prevent osteoporosis. But you still have to be careful. Your workout should challenge your body without being overly stressful to your bones and joints. All of us need both muscle strength and endurance for optimal health. As you know, Callanetics tones and strengths your body. The Cardio portion of Cardio increases your body's endurance. If you only increase your endurance, your strength will not necessarily be increased. (This is why so many runners may be fit and have strong legs but have a very untoned upper body.) If you increase your strength, however, you will increase your endurance. That's why traditional Callanetics is a must; it makes and keeps you strong—and lets you quickly adapt to Cardio.
|
|
|