Cardio is one of the top essential forms of workouts you should be getting on a consistent basis. Cardio might seem like it can get monotonous, especially if you’re working out from home. Luckily, there are many different types of workouts that provide great cardio and can give you some variety and even a fun experience. Learn about the best cardio exercises to do at home by reading below.

Burpees

If you really want to start off getting your body in shape quickly, get going with sets of burpees. We’ll be honest, they are tough. That doesn’t mean you can’t condition your body to do them on a frequent basis. The only way to get there is to start doing them. Burpees will provide you with an intense cardio workout in a very short amount of time, which makes them great for speeding up the time it takes to get yourself into a workout routine. They’re especially great if you want to workout from home. The burpee alternates between holding your body in a plank position, pulling your body into a squat position, and jumping up into the air. As you come back down, let yourself go back down into the squat with your arms back out in front of you, and then push your legs back so you wind up in the plank position again.

Jump Rope

Not only is jumping rope a fun activity, especially for kids, but it’s also an excellent cardio workout that will help increase your physical fitness. Many athletes recommend this as the best cardio workout, as they use it for cross-training. Another great thing about jump roping is you can do it almost anywhere. Just make sure that the space is open enough so nothing gets knocked over by the rope. There are many repetitions of jump roping you can do. It also works as a great calorie burner. Jump roping for even just 20 minutes will burn 220 calories. However, this doesn’t mean you should go for 20 minutes right off the bat. When first starting to work out, you should gradually move up to longer periods of time to prevent injury or exhaustion.

Jumping Jacks

While jumping jacks are another common activity that you probably learned as a kid, either while playing or in gym class, they’re also a quality cardio workout for you as an adult. They might seem a bit simpler than many other workouts meant for cardio, but if you do them correctly, they can make your body work hard enough to burn up to 100 calories in 10 minutes. Start by standing upright with your legs together and your arms at your sides. It’s best to keep your knees bent slightly before you jump into the air. As you jump, spread your legs to about shoulder-width apart and stretch your arms out over your head. Finish it by jumping back to the beginning position. You want to keep doing this as fast as you can. You can also modify the jumping jack to lessen the impact on your joints if the jumping is too much by just stepping side to side. Modifying it does mean you’re weaker. If this is what works better for your body, then that is the wisest decision.

Squat Jumps

This is another simple and repetitive exercise, but it will get your heart pumping—and it’s easy to do on your own at home. You should start in a squat position, then simply jump. To be in the perfect squat position, start with your feet shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees till you’re almost in a sitting position. Make sure to lean forward which will help you keep your balance. Try to jump up as high as you possibly can. You should land back into the squat. It’s wise to consider that these jumps are high impact, specifically on your knees. If you have any struggles with joints or have ever suffered knee injuries, these might not be wise to do too often.

Kickboxing

One of the best cardio exercises to do at home that will let you have a ton of fun while getting into shape is kickboxing. What is there not to like about the idea of kickboxing? You get to perform a style of martial art, but also let yourself feel the burn and become extremely fit. Kickboxing was formed as a combination of karate and boxing. You not only get a solid cardio workout with the amount of energy you exert from the different combinations, but also some exceptional strength training. For the best kickboxing workout and training, you’ll benefit from using some equipment including a punching bag, punching pads, kicking pads, and some form of boxing gloves, especially if you’re doing it on your own at home. You can burn up to 100 calories for every 10 minutes you kickbox.

Dancing

Another cardio workout that’ll give you a fun experience while keeping your body in shape is dancing. Everyone loves getting up and moving to some of their favorite music. What’s great about dance is that each form has various moves that can exercise your cardiovascular system and build up various muscles. While any cardio exercise is also great for your mental health, dancing is one of the best. This is an exercise that allows you to freely express yourself through art. You can also practice a specific type of dance like tap, ballet, hip-hop, and other classic forms that challenge you to learn a new craft. You don’t even have to go out and join a class to start learning a new dance. With a large number of performance artists online, you can find many free videos of people that will teach different forms of dance. Make sure to dress in the proper clothes that allow you to move around unrestricted. Some dances require specific kinds of footwear, so look into what you might need for the dance you want to try.

If you’re in the Michigan region and need quality workout equipment, look to American Home Fitness. Here you can get exercise equipment from Ann Arbor produced by top-of-the-line brands to give you the best home workout.