8 Exercises You Can Do At Home To Get Your Heart Pumping

Staying active and fit doesn’t mean that you have to lift weights at the gym or take a run outdoors. There are plenty of ways to get your heart rate up and break a sweat without stepping outside your house.

Here are a few fun indoor exercises that will get you going.

1. Jumping Jacks

This classic cardio move gets your whole body moving and is a great way to get your heart rate up.

How to do it:

• Start with your feet together and your arms at your sides.
• Jump up and spread your legs out to the sides while bringing your arms over your head.
• Return to the starting position and repeat.

Benefits: Jumping jacks improve muscular strength in the lower body region, such as your hips, glutes, calves, quads, hamstrings, and shins. They also enhance your overall endurance and mobility.

But if you want to amp up your cardiovascular endurance to an athletic level, consider coupling jumping jacks with indoor cycling equipment like spin bikes.

2. Squat Jumps

This exercise is a great way to get your legs and heart pumping at the same time.

How to do it:

• Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms at your sides.
• Lower into a squat position, then quickly jump up as high as you can.
• Land softly back into the squat position and repeat.

Benefits: Squat jumps are one of those home workout routines that help you gain muscle without equipment. They help improve cardiovascular fitness, build muscle strength, and tone your abs, legs, and butt.

3. Burpees
This full-body move is challenging but will instantly get your heart pumping.

How to do it:

• Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms at your sides.
• Lower into a squat position and place your hands on the ground in front of you.
• Kick your feet back into a push-up position, then return to the squat position quickly.
• Stand up and jump into the air, reaching your arms overhead.
• Repeat the entire move as quickly as you can.

Benefits: This is an intense full-body workout that helps burn a ton of calories and enhances your cardio fitness.

4. Mountain Climbers

Mountain climbers are a great way to put multiple body muscles to work simultaneously.

How to do it:

• Start in a push-up position with your hands shoulder-width apart and your feet hip-width apart.
• Bring your right knee up towards your chest, then quickly switch and bring your left knee up.
• Continue alternating knees as fast as you can while keeping your upper body tall and your core engaged.

Benefits: This workout routine strengthens your core, shoulders, arms, back, and legs. Moreover, it gets your heart pumping in no time and accelerates calorie burn.

5. Rope Skipping

Skipping rope is an excellent full-body workout and a fun way to get sweaty quickly.

How to do it:

• Start by standing tall with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms at your sides.
• Swing the rope over your head and under your feet.
• Continue swinging the rope and jumping over it as it comes around.

Benefits: Rope skipping boosts your muscle strength, cardio fitness, and coordination. It also helps with weight loss through rapid calorie burning.

6. High Knees

This move is similar to running in place but with some added benefits.

How to do it:

• Start by standing tall with your feet hip-width apart.
• Bring your right knee up towards your chest, then quickly switch and bring your left knee up.
• Continue alternating knees as fast as you can while keeping your upper body tall and your core engaged.

Benefits: This high-impact exercise engages the core, boosts leg muscle strength, and improves body coordination and flexibility.

More importantly, it helps your hip flexor muscle stay in good shape, helping stabilize your pelvis and spine. If you have a weaker back, you should also try some of these strengthening exercises for lower back pain.

7. Hula Hooping

This might seem like a childhood game, but hula hooping is an excellent way to stay fit and get your heart pumping.

How to do it:

• Start by standing tall with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms at your sides.
• Place the hula hoop around your waist and start moving your hips in a circular motion.
• Continue hula hooping for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Benefits: Hula hooping is great for improving body balance, burning extra calories, working your lower body muscles, and removing excess fat from the waist and hips.

Dancing or Zumba

If you don’t like traditional workouts, try dancing around your living room to your favourite tunes for a fun workout.

How to do it:

• Turn on your favourite music and start moving your body.
• Let loose and have fun while you get your heart rate up.

Benefits: Dancing or Zumba is great for de-stressing, improving coordination, boosting heart health, toning the overall body, and losing weight — and you get all of this while listening to your favourite music.

See? Exercising indoors doesn’t have to be dull and monotonous. With a little creativity, you can design your own workout routine by combining the above exercises. And while you are at it, we highly recommend taking these steps towards an overall healthier lifestyle!