Aerobic exercise provides extensive benefits for your body including basic weight control to the prevention of diseases ranging from diabetes to even some forms of cancer, suggests MayoClinic.com. Although many people choose gym or fitness club memberships to get their weekly dose of exercise, many of the same exercises can be done at home for a lot less money.
Running
Running does not have to be done on a treadmill or even outside. Running inside can provide many of the same aerobic benefits, as the muscle strength needed to lift your feet while running in place still increases energy demands on the body, works the muscles and can increase your heart rate into a fat-burning or aerobic zone. Increase the aerobic intensity of this workout by increasing how fast you raise and lower your feet.
Jumping
Jumping exercises can also provide a cardio workout for your body from home. For example, a simple jump rope can provide a substantial calorie-burning workout as your leg muscles work to propel you over the rope and your arm muscles work to swing the rope. Another jumping exercise that can be done from home are traditional jumping jacks. Be sure that your ceiling is high enough and that no lighting fixtures are directly above your head in order to avoid injury to your body or damage to your home.
DVDs
DVDs are another option for getting aerobic exercise from your home. Exercise DVDs give you the chance to have a fitness class similar to what you would find in a gym, without restriction to times or days of the week when the class is available. The market is flooded with different exercise videos ranging from basic aerobic exercises to more specialized programs like Tae Bo and Pilates to dance exercise DVDs ranging from hip-hop or country line dancing to salsa and ballet.
Strength Training
Strength training can also provide a cardiovascular workout. Equipment such as dumbbells, kettle bells and barbells can be used to build and strengthen muscles while increasing your heart rate and providing an aerobic workout at the same time. Resistance exercises such as push-ups or sit-ups also can help in this way. Even household items like milk jugs or 5-gallon buckets can double as free or low-cost strength-training equipment.
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