And that makes at-home cardio workouts particularly easy to put on the back burner.

And this perk applies insideandoutside the gym, adds Kendter.

How Often Should You Do a Cardio Workout?

Female athlete skipping with jumping rope in gym

Photo: Cavan Images/Getty

A simple yet effective way to measure your workout’s intensity is by usingthe talk test, says Kendter.

Instead, keep your rest periods short to keep the intensity high, she says.

Though these moves are considered the best cardio exercises, some challenge much more than your lungs and heart.

“Speed skaters lend themselves to other benefits aside from just getting your heart rate up.

Cycle through them again for a 30-minute workout.

B.Explosively push upward, jumping as high as possible.

double-check to drive through heels and not toes.

Upon landing, immediately squat down.

(Love jump squats?Add box jumps to your workout routineto up the ante.)

Body should form a straight line from shoulders to ankles.

C.Return foot to start and repeat with the other leg.

Quickly alternate driving knees in toward chest as if running.

Speed Skaters

A.Begin standing on left foot.

In one fluid motion, leap to the right and shift body weight to right foot.

Wall Sprints

A.Stand facing a wall with feet hips-width apart.

Place hands on the wall at shoulder height in a push-up position.

Lean in until body is at a 45-degree angle.

Jump Rope Skips

A.Hop continuously at a steady pace.

Keep shoulder blades down and back, chest lifted, and land softly.

Swing the rope with wrists, not arms.

B.To initiate the swing, inhale and hike the weight back and up between legs.

(Legs will slightly straighten in this position.)

C.Powering through hips, exhale and quickly stand up and swing the weight forward up to eye level.

At the top of the movement, the core and glutes should visibly contract.

D.Drive the weight back down and up underneath body.

Thrusters

A.Stand with feet hips-width apart.

Hold a dumbbell in each hand next to thighs, palms facing inward.

B.Brace midline, then hinge hips back, lowering dumbbells to mid-thigh.

This is the start position.

C.Keeping core tight, elbows high, and chest forward, sit glutes back toward the ground.

D.At the bottom of squat, press heels into the ground to straighten legs while pressing dumbbells overhead.

The rep is complete when legs are straight and dumbbells are directly over shoulders, biceps pressed against ears.

Keep left arm at side.

B.Brace core and extend right arm straight overhead.

C.Slowly lower elbow to return to start.

Finish set and repeat for left side.

Toe Taps

A.Stand facing a stair, box, or kettlebell.

Sprint in place, tapping right toes, then left toes, on top of the object.

Repeat, alternating feet.

Burpees

A.Stand with feet shoulders-width apart with weight in heels and arms at sides.

B.Push hips back, bend knees, and lower body into a squat.

C.Place hands on the floor directly in front of, and just inside, feet.

Shift weight onto hands.

D.Jump feet back to softly land on balls of feet in a plank position.

Body should form a straight line from head to heels.

Be careful not to let back sag or butt stick up in the air.

E.Optional: Lower into a push-up or lower body all the way onto the floor, keeping core engaged.

Push up to lift body off the floor and return to plank position.

F. Jump feet forward so they land just outside of hands.

G. Reach arms overhead and explosively jump up into the air.

Immediately lower back into a squat for the next rep.

(

High Knees

A.

Stand with feet hips-width apart and arms at sides.

B.Return foot to start and repeat with other leg.

Quickly alternate driving knees in toward chest as if running.

Froggers

D.Jump feet back to softly land on the balls of feet in a plank position.

Body should form a straight line from head to heels.

Be careful not to let back sag or butt stick up in the air.

E:Jump feet forward so they land just outside of hands, and hold the low squat position.

Lateral Shuffles

A.Stand with feet hips-width apart, knees bent, and weight shifted into hips.

B.Keeping chest in line with knees, push off from left foot and shuffle toward the right.

Continue pushing off from left foot for five steps.

C.Stop and repeat on right side in the left direction.

Jumping Jacks

A.Stand with feet together and arms at sides.

B.Jump into the air, separating legs and raising arms overhead.

Land with feet hips-width apart, then jump feet back together and lower arms to sides.

Land softly in lunge position with left leg in front.

That’s one rep.

C.Quickly repeat, switching legs each time.