3 Low-Impact Exercise Options
Low impact exercise is suitable for everybody. It’s great for those of you who want a more laid-back workout or those of you who suffer from joint pain and find high-intensity exercise difficult.
Low impact exercise is also beneficial if you are new to working out and you want to ease yourself into a proper training program.
Unlike high impact exercises, like running or HIIT, low impact options are easier on your joints. They can be performed anywhere, whether you’re at home, at the gym, or in the park, too, making them accessible to pretty much everybody at any time of the day.
Here are three great low impact exercise options for you to try out. You don't necessarily need a gym membership to do any of these forms of exercise, and you can do them alone or with a friend.
Walking
Walking is one of the simplest yet more effective forms of exercise. It gets your heart beating and your muscles working in a way that doesn’t put too much stress on your joints.
Choose a pace and intensity that suits your current fitness levels, put your favorite music on, and get walking! You can walk anywhere, and it’s free.
If you want some company, bring a friend along and take a walk in your local park. This is a great way to increase your step count and get some fresh air.
Elliptical
Elliptical machines are stationary cardio machines that offer a great way to practice low-intensity exercise. You can find them in most public gyms.
These machines mimic running, but they don’t place the same amount of stress on your knees as real running does. Ellipticals get your whole body working, including your legs, arms, and core. You can usually select the difficulty on the machine, which enables you to adjust the intensity of your workout.
Yoga
There are several styles of yoga, each of which has slight variations. However, they all provide the same physical and mental benefits.
Yoga enhances your core strength, improves stability, and boosts balance but places almost no stress on your joints. It’s also incredible for your mental health and may boost your focus and concentration.
You can choose a more intense style of yoga if you want a more difficult workout, such as Vinyasa yoga. If you want to work out in a more relaxed way, you can try something like Hatha yoga.