Many people have the question of whether yoga alone is enough…as much as we love it, the answer is not quite. Although Yoga has many, many wonderful benefits, it many times does not elevate our heart rate to the level we need in order to get the cardiovascular health benefits necessary for wellness.

What counts as cardio?

Cardio is considered any activity that elevates our heart rate to between 55 and 85 percent of our maximum heart rate, which is calculated by 180 BPM minus our age.

Cardio activities include walking, jogging, biking, hiking, swimming, and so many more!

How much and for how long?

It is recommended to do 20-60 minutes of cardiovascular exercise most days a week. It is best to start at a lower intensity, for a longer time. For example, if you would like to start jogging, start with walking and slowly add a few minutes of jogging each time, for 20-60 minutes, rather than trying to run for 5 minutes.

The benefits of cardiovascular exercise are many:

• Weight control
• Combats health conditions and diseases
• Improves mood
• Boosts energy
• Promotes better sleep
• Sparks sex life
• Prevents osteoporosis
• Increases self esteem