Have you ever heard of the new trend about cardio? The new viral videos show that people are trying to find some exercises to do at home and relax after a long, busy day. So, what is better than cozy cardio?
These at-home workouts prioritize comfort and relaxation, making exercise feel less like a chore and more like a form of self-care.
So, what exactly is cozy cardio, and how can it improve your fitness?
This article will explore this exciting trend, exploring how you can create a cozy cardio routine and its surprising benefits on your physical and mental well-being.
What Is Cozy Cardio?
Do not feel discomfort while exercising! This is all about the new trend: Cozy cardio.
Unlike traditional exercise focused on reps or weight, cozy cardio prioritizes how you feel. Dr. Michaels says it’s about creating a workout environment that makes you feel comfortable and confident.
This can mean designing a relaxing, fun, or warm space – whatever gets you moving and enjoying it!
So, the environment built for cozy cardio depends on your mood.
Here are some ideas to create your perfect cozy cardio scene:
- Entertainment: Watch your favorite show, listen to an audiobook, or lose yourself in a good playlist.
- Ambiance: Light some candles, dim the lights, or use an essential oil diffuser to create a calming atmosphere.
- Peace & quiet: If you prefer a silent space, that works too!
- Comfort food (drinks): Sip on a soothing cup of tea or a healthy smoothie while you exercise.
The “cardio” part of cozy cardio moves away from intense workouts. Instead, it focuses on gentle exercises like walking, stationary biking, yoga, or Pilates.
Interesting fact: Cozy cardio isn’t necessarily new, but it highlights the importance of making exercise enjoyable and finding ways to fit it into your lifestyle. This has become trendy on TikTok recently by a girl who sets up a cozy environment, makes her iced coffee, and starts walking gently on the treadmill.
Does this type of workout (with no intensity at all!) have even some benefits?
What Are the Cozy Cardio Benefits?
Cozy cardio is not about increasing your heart rate with tense moments; it is more about self-care and focusing on mental health. So, the benefits are not primarily physical.
Here are some of the critical advantages of incorporating this feel-good approach to fitness into your fitness routine:
1. Increased Enjoyment of Exercise
While doing cozy cardio, you focus on creating a comfortable and enjoyable workout environment, making the exercise more appealing and sustainable in the long term. You can increase the consistency and activity level.
2. Reduced Stress & Improved Mental Well-Being
As the name of this trendy workout suggests, it focuses more on relaxation and stress reduction, so a cozy workout can significantly benefit your mental health. Activities like yoga and light movement have lowered cortisol (stress hormone) levels and improved mood.
3. Improved Cardiovascular Health
Even low-impact exercises like walking (even on a treadmill), stationary biking, and gentle yoga can benefit you and improve your cardiovascular health. Regular cozy cardio sessions can strengthen your heart, improve circulation, and lower your risk of heart disease.
4. Gentler On Joints
Cozy cardio exercises, with their cozy nature, put less stress on your joints than high-impact activities like running or jumping. So, this is great for people with joint pain or injuries or even beginners who are afraid to start with tense workouts.
5. Increased Flexibility & Mobility
Yoga, Pilates, and cozy cardio exercises incorporate stretches and movements that improve flexibility and range of motion. This can help with everyday activities and increase mobility and flexibility.
6. Improved sleep
No matter the workout level, you are doing cozy cardio or intense HIIT; your sleep quality will improve if you exercise regularly. This is because exercise helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle and can tire you out healthily.
Now that you are familiar with the benefits let’s discuss the types of workouts that can be considered “Cozy Cardio” workouts!
How To Do Cozy Cardio Workouts?
As you already know, we can add no rule or stable workout here. Cozy cardio is about creating a workout experience that feels good for you.
· So, there is NO one-size-fits-all approach here!
As fitness expert Sarah Dabbs says, “Cozy cardio is very much about you.” You can create a cozy cardio routine!
You can design your workout space to match your mood: light some calming candles and put on relaxing music, or crank up the tunes for an upbeat session. Throw on your favorite comfy clothes, and get ready to move!
· There are no set rules on duration:
You can start with a manageable 10-minute routine and see how you feel. I suggest extending it to 30 minutes or even an hour! The key is to find activities you genuinely enjoy, whether a gentle yoga flow, a walk on your treadmill, or a Pilates session with some light weights.
What is the cozy workout’s ultimate goal?
Building a workout routine is something you look forward to doing regularly. So, lace up your sneakers, put on your favorite playlist, and enjoy the pleasure of cozy cardio!
But be mindful that this might not be the best option if you want a workout that helps you lose weight!
Bringing This To A Close
This article discussed the cozy cardio trend and how it can improve overall fitness. While cozy cardio is less intense than traditional workouts like running on a treadmill, it still offers benefits.
Traditional cardio emphasizes specific goals like duration, intensity, or step count. Cozy cardio, on the other hand, prioritizes simply getting you moving.
Even small amounts of activity are valuable. Although cozy cardio is excellent for overall health, it may not maximize cardiovascular benefits. Consider it a foundation to build on, and then you can move to higher-intensity workouts later for more gains.
If you have anything to add, please post it in the comments below and continue the topic there. We would be so happy to hear your opinion about cozy cardio.
