As the winter rolls on it can be hard to stay motivated to exercise. Whether you are limited to indoor activities or are just a bit bored of your current routine, it is always good to have a new fun way to workout. And if simultaneously slamming on drums, dancing to loud music and strengthening your heart sounds appealing, then we just may have the new workout for you. Introducing cardio drumming, the latest most unique way to get in a great workout and have an absolute blast at the same time.
Photo courtesy of
Polar Nutrition
What is cardio drumming?
Cardio drumming is a workout that utilizes drumming to work your cardiovascular system. Inspired by the large powerful movements of Japanese Taiko drummers, cardio drumming involves standing, full body drumming to work up a sweat. A bit more fun and palatable as compared to traditional workouts, cardio drumming can be an excellent way to
get your exercise in without
feeling like you’re exercising.
What are the benefits of cardio drumming?
Similar to other
cardiovascular workouts, cardio drumming is a great way to increase your overall cardiovascular health and fitness. If you are aiming for
weight loss it can also be a fun simple way to burn some extra calories. Not to mention you are sure to build hand eye coordination and upper body power. On top of that, similar to dancing, it can be an excellent way to release emotions, stress and tension, and you are guaranteed to feel energized and lighter after a session of cardio drumming.
Why is cardiovascular health important?
Cardiovascular health encompasses the function of your heart and blood vessels. Maintaining an optimally functioning cardiovascular system is vital to avoid heart disease, which can eventually lead to heart attack and other serious complications. On top of exercise, here are a few others ways to help you maintain optimal cardiovascular health:
- Maintain a well-balanced diet, full of (naturally) colorful foods, healthy fats and low in added sugars.
- Avoid smoking at all costs. Smoking has been shown to lead to plaque build up in arteries which can lead to heart disease.
- Try your best to manage stress levels. While not an easy task, finding ways to keep your stress levels down is vital to keeping blood pressure in check. Cardio drumming could be a great way to help with this!
- Make sleep a priority. Poor sleep has been linked to high blood pressure and heart disease, so make sure you are getting close to 8 hours of quality sleep each night. (life hack: exercise helps you get to sleep and stay asleep!)
Who can benefit from it?
Cardio drumming is an excellent exercise for all ages and capacities, and because it requires little equipment it is quite accessible. It can also be easily modified for those who are unable to stand by just using a smaller bucket and ball. Based on your fitness level and abilities, you can adjust how fast and big your movements are to make the workout challenging but doable.
How do I make a drum?
Fortunately, all you need to complete your own cardio drumming workout is a bucket, an exercise ball and a couple of drumsticks. Stick the bucket on the ground right side up, pop the exercise ball in the bucket and voila, an exercise drum! It may be helpful to add a sticky bottom to the bucket so it doesn’t slide all over. You could also put some weights in the bottom of the bucket to keep it in one place.
What do I drum to?
Whatever music you want! Depending on your mood and energy level, throw on a playlist that feels good and just go for it. The best part about cardio drumming is you just follow the music, no rules, no instructions to follow, just purely moving to the beat of the music.
Are there classes?
As it becomes a more popular activity, it is possible that you may be able to find a cardio drumming class near you. Similar to
Zumba or any other dance fitness class, there may be more specific moves and rhythms the instructor guides you through, but overall it will still be a very free flowing workout. If you can’t find any classes near you and prefer workout comradery, grab a few friends and try cardio drumming together.
I think I am ready to try it, any last tips?
Just like when starting any new exercise program, make to consult with a medical professional if you have any health conditions or concerns. Also, don’t forget to
warm up and cool down! You can either start with a few minutes of active stretches to get your heart rate up and muscles ready, or just plan to take the first couple of songs easy to give your body time to adjust. At the end of your workout, take a few minutes to do some stretches or an easy walk to help settle your system after the intense session you just had. And most importantly, let yourself drum like no one is watching!
