Torch Fat with 32 Killer Cardio Workouts for Home or Gym
Cardio exercises are an essential component of any fitness routine. When performed consistently, they provide numerous health benefits and improve cardiovascular fitness.
Below, you’ll find cardio workouts for losing weight, stamina, and overall fitness.
These workouts are for everyone – from beginner to advanced. Even seniors.
Prefer working out at home? Or the gym? You’ll find workouts for both.
Each exercise is designed to kickstart your heart rate, lose weight, and improve cardiovascular fitness.
To ensure you’re doing the exercises correctly, each exercise done at home comes with a short description of how to do it and a link to a demonstration video.
So embrace the journey, and get ready to reap the countless benefits of cardio exercise.
Cardio Workouts at Home
- Jumping Jacks
Jumping Jacks are a simple and effective full-body exercise.
How to do it:
- Start with your feet together and your arms at your sides.
- Jump up, spreading your legs shoulder-width apart while raising your arms to the sides and above your head.
- As you land, bring your feet back together and your arms back to your sides.
- Repeat Steps 2 & 3 for your desired number of reps.
Watch it on YouTube: Jumping Jacks
- Rebounder
A Rebounder, a mini trampoline, is an effective, easy-on-your-joints device for cardio exercise.
How to do it:
- Begin by warming up your body with some light stretching.
- Stand on the rebounder with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Start bouncing up and down on the rebounder, using a gentle and controlled motion.
- As you become comfortable with the bouncing motion, you can add in some movements, such as jumping jacks, high knees, or twists, to increase your heart rate and engage your entire body.
- Aim to exercise on the rebounder for 10-15 minutes to get a good cardio workout.
Watch it on YouTube: Rebounder
- Butt Kicks
Butt Kicks not only get your heart rate up, but they’re great as a warm-up exercise.
How to do it:
- Bring your heels up toward your glutes while keeping your thighs perpendicular to the ground.
- The movement should be quick and continuous as if you were jogging in place while kicking your heels back.
Watch it on YouTube: Butt Kicks
- Marching in Place
Marching in Place is an excellent, low-impact cardio exercise.
How to do it:
- Lift each knee towards the check while keeping the opposite leg straight.
- The movement should be slow and controlled, with the arms swinging naturally to aid in balance and coordination.
Watch it on YouTube: Marching in Place
- Freestyle Dancing
This is a fun and enjoyable way to exercise. It involves moving your body to the rhythm of music without a specific choreography. Depending on your preferences, it can involve a combination of different dance styles or movements.
Watch it on YouTube: Freestyle Dancing
- Jogging in Place
This low-impact cardio exercise can be done anywhere with minimal equipment. Here’s how to do it:
- Stand with your feet hip-width apart and lift your heels off the ground so that you’re standing on the balls of your feet.
- Begin jogging in place, bringing one knee up towards your chest while the other leg extends behind you.
- Alternate your legs as you jog, keeping your core engaged and your arms swinging naturally at your sides.
Watch it on YouTube: Jogging in Place
- Mock Jump Rope
This is a great way to increase your heart rate and improve your coordination without using an actual jump rope.
Here’s how you do it:
- Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides.
- Begin jumping in place, lifting your feet just a few inches off the ground.
- As you jump, swing your arms in a circular motion as if you were holding a jump rope and turning it over your head.
- Continue jumping and swinging your arms for the desired time or repetitions.
Watch it on YouTube: Mock Jump Rope
- Shadow Boxing
Shadowboxing can be done anywhere with no equipment required.
Here’s how to do it:
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
- Keep your fists up, elbows in, and shoulders relaxed.
- Begin punching in the air, alternating between jabs, crosses, hooks, and uppercuts.
- Move around, pivot on your feet, and duck and weave to simulate the movements of a boxer.
Watch it on YouTube: Shadow Boxing
- Lateral Shuffles
Lateral Shuffles can improve your agility, balance, and coordination while strengthening your lower body muscles.
Here’s how to do it:
- Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
- Step to the side with your right foot, keeping your left foot in place.
- Quickly bring your left foot to meet your right foot.
- Repeat this lateral shuffling motion to the right for the desired time or repetitions.
- Reverse the motion and shuffle to the left.
Watch it on YouTube: Lateral Shuffles
- Squat to Front Kick
This exercise can improve your lower body strength, balance, and coordination.
Here’s how to do it:
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands at your sides.
- Lower yourself into a squat position by bending your knees and pushing your hips back.
- As you stand up, shift your weight onto your left leg and lift your right leg off the ground.
- Extend your right leg forward into a front kick, keeping your hands at your sides or in front of you for balance.
- Lower your right leg back to the ground and return to the squat position.
- Repeat on the other side, kicking with your left leg.
Watch it on YouTube: Squat to Front Kick
- Tuck Jumps
Tuck Jumps is a high-intensity cardio exercise that targets the legs, glutes, and core muscles.
Here’s how to do it:
Start in a standing position with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Bend your knees and jump up explosively, bringing your knees up to your chest and tucking them in with your hands.
- Land softly on the balls of your feet and immediately jump back up, bringing your knees up again.
- Continue jumping and tucking your knees as high as possible for the desired time or repetitions.
Watch it on YouTube: Tuck Jumps
- Burpees
Burpees is a full-body, high-intensity cardio exercise that can improve your strength, endurance, and overall fitness.
Start in a standing position with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Bend down and place your hands on the ground in front of you, shoulder-width apart.
- Jump your feet back into a plank position, keeping your body straight from head to heels.
- Lower your body down to the ground, keeping your elbows close to your body.
- Push up explosively back to the plank position.
- Jump your feet forward between your hands.
- Stand up and jump up explosively, raising your hands above your head.
- Land softly on the balls of your feet and immediately drop back down into another burpee.
Watch it on YouTube: Burpees
- Squat Jumps
Squat Jumps combine a squat with a jump. It can help improve cardiovascular health and increase lower body strength.
Here’s how to do it:
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, squat down until your thighs are parallel to the ground.
- Then jump up explosively while extending your arms above your head.
- Upon landing, immediately go into another squat and jump again.
Watch it on YouTube: Squat Jumps
- Screamer Lunges
Screamer Lunges target your legs, glutes, and core muscles.
Here’s how to do it:
- Step forward with one foot into a lunge position.
- Then, explosively jump up and switch the position of your feet in midair to land in a lunge position with your other foot forward.
Watch it on YouTube: Screamer Lunges
- Mountain Climbers
Mountain Climbers target multiple muscle groups, including the core, shoulder, arms, and legs.
Here’s how to do it:
- Get into a plank position with your hands on the ground and your feet extended behind you.
- From there, quickly alternate, bringing one knee toward your chest and then switching to the other leg, as if climbing a mountain.
Watch it on YouTube: Mountain Climbers
- Virtual Reality Cardio Workout
The Supernatural Virtual Reality Fitness Program combines virtual reality technology with a full-body workout that you can do at home. The program offers a variety of workouts, including cardio and strength training, that take place in immersive environments inspired by natural landscapes. The workouts are led by virtual trainers and feature high-energy music to keep you motivated. The program also includes personalized tracking and progress monitoring.
- Online Cardio Video Workouts
Online cardio video workouts provide something for everyone, from high-intensity interval training to dance-based workouts. The YouTube app allows you to watch these on your phone or TV.
Here are a few to try:
- Fitness Blender’s HIIT Cardio & Abs Workout is a 37-minute high-intensity interval training (HIIT) that combines cardio and core exercises.
- Pop Sugar’s 30-minute Dance Cardio Workout is a fun and energetic 30-minute dance cardio workout led by a dance instructor who breaks down the steps and keeps the energy high throughout the workout.
- Dr. Sears PACE Express 12-Minute Fitness Revolution is a workout designed to help you increase your cardiovascular fitness quickly.
Cardio Workouts at the Gym
While working out at home can be convenient, you might not have enough room. Or do you prefer the high-end machines, weights, and classes? Perhaps you’re the type of person who enjoys the social atmosphere or loves the motivation of working with others who share similar fitness goals.
Whatever your reason for not working out at home, here are some great exercises to do at a gym.
- Treadmill walking
Start walking on the treadmill at a moderate pace and gradually increase the speed as you become more comfortable. This exercise improves cardiovascular health, strengthens leg muscles, and burns fat.
- Stationary bike
Use a stationary bike to increase your heart rate, burn calories, and strengthen leg muscles. Start with low resistance and increase it as you get stronger.
- Elliptical machine
The elliptical machine provides a low-impact workout that helps improve your cardiovascular fitness. Start with a comfortable resistance and gradually increase it as you get stronger.
- Stair stepper
The stair stepper simulates climbing stairs to provide a good cardio workout, strengthen legs, and boost weight loss. Start with a low resistance and gradually increase it as you become more comfortable.
- Rowing machine
The rowing machine provides a full-body workout that can help improve your cardiovascular fitness. Start with a low resistance and gradually increase it as you get stronger.
- High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
HIIT workouts involve alternating periods of intense activity with periods of rest or lower-intensity activity. They can be done on various cardio machines, such as the treadmill, stationary bike, or rowing machine, promoting cardiovascular health, boosting metabolism, and improving endurance.
- Running on the treadmill
Running is a great way to increase your heart rate, burn calories, and strengthen leg muscles. Increase the incline or speed to increase the intensity of your workout.
- Stair sprints
Sprinting up and down stairs is a high-intensity workout that improves cardiovascular fitness and leg strength. Use a staircase or the stair stepper machine for this exercise.
- Jump rope
Jumping rope is a challenging cardio exercise that can be done anywhere. Start with a few sets of 30-60 seconds and gradually increase the duration and intensity of your workout to improve coordination and burn calories.
- Cycling classes
Group cycling classes provide a high-intensity cardio workout led by an instructor. The resistance and speed can be adjusted to match your fitness level.
- Plyometric exercises
Plyometric exercises involve explosive movements, such as box jumps, jump squats, or jumping lunges. They improve cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles, and improve overall athletic performance.
- Battle ropes
Battle ropes are thick, heavy ropes used for high-intensity cardio and strength training exercises, such as alternating waves, double waves, and slams.
- Sled push/pull
Sled pushing and pulling is a full-body workout that requires strength, power, and endurance. It involves pushing or pulling a weighted sled across a designated distance.
- Rowing sprints
Rowing sprints involve short bursts of high-intensity rowing followed by periods of rest or lower-intensity rowing. This exercise improves cardiovascular fitness, upper body strength, and endurance.
- Staircase sprints with weight vest
Running up and down stairs while wearing a weight vest can provide a challenging cardiovascular workout to strengthen legs and endurance.
Now it’s time to increase your strength, fitness, & vitality!
As you embark on your fitness journey, remember that these fat-burning cardio workouts are designed to enhance your fitness routine and take you to the next level.
And to get to that next level, just be consistent.
Consistently doing cardio workouts—at home or the gym—can help you grow stronger, fitter, and shapelier.
So, lace up your shoes, grab your water bottle, and get ready to sweat it out!