Real Cardiovascular Fitness – 2 Ways to Gain Real Cardio Without Running!

If you are open to achieving maximum levels of fitness and cardiovascular conditioning through other methods besides running then permit yourself to continue reading. There is more than one way to skin a cat! If you don’t believe me then you need to apply the following 2 drills that I have included in this article to your personal training program.

1. The Double-Arm Kettlebell Swing: This is a base lift that you can do with the kettlebell in order to get a real edge in building hard lean muscle, but it is hugely effective in helping you to build serious levels of cardiovascular fitness! With kettlebell swings you are implementing over hundreds of muscles in your body to perform the task and the swings will get your heart pumping harder than anything you have ever tried. With every swing you utilize movements in your hips and knees to flex and extend in a forceful, smooth, and continuous motion back and forth in what is called the hip snap.

This movement is necessary in order for you to move the bell along an arc that swings from between your legs up to your chest level. As you are doing this you have to be conscious of keeping your shoulders retracted and your head up. With every repetition you have to fight against the sensation of being pulled forward. This counter-reaction will help you to build on your conditioning and forge your body into a machine that is capable of performing like a race horse with every repetition!

2. Squat Thrusts With A Jump: This particular exercise is almost as taxing as the kettlebell swings when it comes to building your cardiovascular endurance. To start this drill you will begin by standing with your feet about shoulder width distance apart. Crouch down and place your hands on the ground in front of you. From here you kick your feet back and extend your legs until you are in an upright push-up position. Next, simply thrust your feet back up underneath your body like at the start.

Finally, from this crouched position stand up and explosively execute a vertical jump from this position. All of these movements will equate to a single repetition. Your heart will be in high gear, you will sweat, and the amazing thing is that you will have not even taken your first stride into a run!