Endurance Exercises
Increasing Your Breathing And Heart Rate
Endurance exercises are activities that increase your breathing and heart rate for an extended period of time. Examples are walking, jogging, swimming, raking, sweeping, dancing, and playing tennis. Endurance exercises will make it easier for you to walk farther, faster, or uphill. They also should make everyday activities such as gardening, shopping, or playing a sport easier.
Doing Endurance Exercises
Video length: 30 sec
Click to watch this video
Video length: 30 sec
Click to watch this video
See more endurance exercises below, including ones you can do indoors, outdoors, and around the house, as well as different types of walking and sports activities.
How Much, How Often?
Refer to your starting goals, and build up your endurance gradually. If you haven’t been active for a long time, it’s especially important to work your way up over time. It may take a while to go from a longstanding inactive lifestyle to doing some of the activities listed below.
For example, start out with 5 or 10 minutes at a time, and then build up to at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity endurance activity. Doing less than 10 minutes at a time won’t give you the desired heart and lung benefits. Try to build up to at least 150 minutes (2 1/2 hours) of moderate endurance activity a week. Being active at least 3 days a week is best.
Going Further
When you're ready to do more, build up the amount of time you spend doing endurance activities first, then build up the difficulty of your activities. For example, gradually increase your time to 30 minutes over several days to weeks (or even months, depending on your condition) by walking longer distances. Then walk more briskly or up steeper hills.
Safety Tips
- Do a little light activity, such as easy walking, before and after your endurance activities to warm up and cool down.
- Drink liquids when doing any activity that makes you sweat.
- Dress appropriately for the heat and cold. Dress in layers if you're outdoors so you can add or remove clothes as needed.
- Wear the proper shoes. (See "Shoes and Equipment" for more information.)
- When you're out walking, watch out for low-hanging branches and uneven sidewalks.
- Walk during the day or in well-lit areas at night, and be aware of your surroundings.
- To prevent injuries, use safety equipment such as helmets for biking.
- Endurance activities should not make you breathe so hard that you can't talk and should not cause dizziness, or chest pain or pressure, or a feeling like heartburn.
Indoor Endurance Activities
Don't let bad weather stop you from exercising. Here are some options for exercising indoors.
- going to a gym or fitness center and using the treadmill, elliptical machine, stationary bike, or rowing machine
- swimming laps
- joining a water aerobics class
- dancing
- performing martial arts
- bowling
For a fuller list of indoor activities, check out “Indoor Activities” from Go4Life®, the exercise and physical activity campaign from the National Institute on Aging.
Outdoor Endurance Activities
Use your exercise program as a chance to get outside and enjoy nature. Here are some ideas for being active outdoors.
- biking, hand-crank bicycling, or tandem biking
- horseback riding
- sailing
- jogging or running
- skating
- snorkeling
For more on outdoor activities, check out “Biking Safely” and"Have Fun! Be Active With Your Dog!" from Go4Life®.
Endurance Activities Around The House
You don't need to leave your house to be active. Check out these ways to exercise at home.
- gardening
- heavy housework
- exercise DVDs such as the Go4Life® DVD offered here
- sweeping
- raking
- shoveling snow
Learn how to make your home environment safe. Check out “Fall Proofing Your Home”from Go4Life®.
Walking Or Rolling
Walking or wheelchair rolling are simple ways to be active. You can do it alone, with friends, even with your dog! Try one of these types of walking or rolling to get active today.
- Nordic walking
- hiking
- walking the dog
- mall walking
- wheelchair rolling
- race walking
For more on walking, check out “Walking for Your Health” and “Walking Safely in Rural Areas” from Go4Life®.
Sports
Sports are a great way to motivate yourself to be active. Competition and teamwork can inspire you to work harder and to keep up your commitment to exercise. Try one of these sports.
- tennis
- golf
- pickleball
- hockey
- seated volleyball
- wheelchair basketball
