Does aerobic exercise require special equipment?
Written by
Gina Mason
Reviewed by
Prof. Benjamin Murphy, Ph.D.Aerobic workouts require absolutely no special equipment to yield benefits for health and fitness. Your body provides the primary means for effective aerobic exercises. The legs of your body provide for walking, requiring only simple supportive shoes. Climbing stairs transforms existing architectural structures into a means of fitness. Dance aerobics requires a space sufficient for free movement. I have helped clients achieve excellent results using only natural means.
Basic Activities
- Walking outdoors uses sidewalks parks or neighborhood routes
- Jogging in place works well indoors during poor weather
- Stair climbing builds endurance using home or building steps
- Shadow boxing provides cardio without any gear requirements
Creative Approaches
- Dance routines to music boost heart rate using rhythm
- High-knee marches elevate intensity through body mechanics
- Jumping jacks offer full-body engagement needing zero equipment
- Mountain climbers on carpet provide challenging movement patterns
Outdoor areas are excellent places to exercise without any apparatus. Parks often feature walking paths and benches for people to take a step up. Beaches have a firmer footing for stepping in, with some resistance from the earth itself. Cities have stairs and inclines. All of these places are ordinary settings that can be transformed into complete fitness facilities. I regularly create routines using park features for client sessions.
Bodyweight workouts offer a significant cardio benefit, requiring no equipment. Burpees combine squats, jumps, and push-ups for a full-body cardiovascular workout. Jumping jacks quickly raise the heart rate. Mountain climbers work various muscle groups all at once. These movements enable circuit training to be performed purely through resistance training, using only our own body as equipment.
Adding simple enhancements increases the possibilities of doing effective workouts without incurring any additional costs. Water bottles will add light weights to active routines. Towels provide effective sliding surfaces for core-engaging exercises. Timers on telephones can structure interval workouts. Such provisions can be readily found around the home, allowing for pick-up possibilities without compromising the zero-equipment aspect of the routine.
Read the full article: 10 Aerobic Exercise Advantages Backed by Science
