Cardio/Aerobic Training Archives - IDEA Health & Fitness Association

Running Never Gets Old

Running is perhaps one of humanity’s most primal movements. Our ancestors ran chasing prey, fleeing danger and traversing terrain. Today it remains one of the simplest and most accessible forms…

Why Your Runs Feel Easier in Cooler Weather

If your pace feels smoother on crisp mornings than on humid summer days, thermoregulation is the reason. Running generates significant body heat, and in warm conditions your cardiovascular system must…

Cardiovascular Exercise and Vitamin D

New study finds a relationship between aerobic exercise and vitamin D levels. Regular indoor training helps maintain healthy vitamin D levels during winter, even without supplements or fat loss, as…

Guidelines for Aerobic Exercise Training Intensity

New research recommends more individualized training guidelines. A 2025 review published in Sports Medicine challenges traditional aerobic exercise guidelines that rely on fixed percentages of peak heart rate or VO₂…

Group of people walking outdoors to show how nature walks reduce stress

Fitness Professionals Can Leverage Outdoor Cardio in Late Summer and Fall

As summer winds down and cooler temperatures settle in, fitness professionals have an opportunity to shift their programming – and client engagement – outdoors. This seasonal transition offers more than…

Cardio Exercise Zones: A Guide for Fitness Professionals

Understanding and applying cardio exercise zones can significantly elevate a fitness professional’s ability to design smart, personalized programs. These zones, based on heart rate percentages, allow for targeted training that…

How Zone 2 Cardio Can Support Fat Loss and Maintenance While Using GLP-1 Medications

If you’re taking GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) for weight loss or diabetes management, you already know how powerful these drugs can be in helping…

Implementing a Zone 2 Cardio Workout into Your Routine

What Is Zone 2 Cardio? Zone 2 cardio refers to exercising at a low to moderate intensity where your heart rate is elevated but you can still hold a conversation….

Understanding Cardio Exercise Zones

Cardio workouts are one of the best things you can do for your heart, lungs, and overall well-being—but not all cardio is created equal. You’ve probably heard terms like “fat-burning…

The Science and Resurgence of Metabolic Training

Metabolic training is enjoying a notable comeback in fitness culture, driven by a blend of evidence-based benefits, consumer demand for efficient workouts, and the evolution of fitness technology. Described by…

Study Finds a Heart-pounding Workout May Suppress Appetite, Especially in Women

Here is a reason why you might want to have more of your clients go all-in on HIIT: that type of exercise may keep hunger at bay. A high-intensity workout…

Running for Health: A Brief Review

In the 5th century BC, the physician Hippocrates stated: “All parts of the body, if used in moderation and exercised in labors to which each is accustomed, become thereby healthy…

How Exercise Reduces Depression

Physical activity, particularly aerobic exercise, is known to reduce depressive symptoms, but how is not understood. Researchers from University College London reviewed multiple studies on depression, exercise, motivation, dopamine transmission,…

Outdoor Gait Training and Shin Splints

Many exercisers enjoy treadmill running, but often suffer from shin splints. Outdoor gait training and home exercises significantly reduced pain for subjects in a 4-week study conducted by University of…

Longer Sprint Intervals Achieve Fitness Faster

Comparison of different sprint interval protocols shows most efficient ways to exercise. New research shows that repeating multiple short sprint intervals is not as beneficial as fewer longer sprint intervals,…

Walking Benefits Low Back Pain

Consistent walking program reduced the need for back pain care by half in new study. Consider adding a walking program into the routine of clients coping with low back pain…