You should include cardio exercises in your fitness plan to improve your health and overall fitness. Exercise is essential for maintaining good health and well-being. Regular physical activity can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve mental health and mood.

Cardio exercises place a larger workload on the heart and help you burn more calories than other types of exercise. It will help build up your lungs and cardiovascular system if done properly and with intensity.

Below are eight simple cardio exercises to help you look good (and feel good).

1. Jumping Jacks

Jumping jacks are one of the most common cardio exercises and can be done anywhere, even in your living room. To do jumping jacks:

• Stand with feet together, arms at your sides.
• Jump up, bringing your arms above your head as if you were clapping in midair (you won’t touch your hands). As you land, quickly bring your arms back down to your sides and repeat this sequence continuously for the prescribed time or repetitions (e.g., ten sets of 10 jumping jacks).

2. Burpees

Burpees are one of the best cardiac exercises because they require you to use a variety of muscle groups and move your body in space.

To perform a burpee, start with your feet together and squat down so that your hands touch the ground between your legs. Then jump up as high as possible while spreading your arms wide apart before clapping above your head and returning to the starting position.

Repeat this movement for 60 seconds, counting how many repetitions you can complete per minute. If this is too easy for you, try doing 90 seconds instead!

3. Mountain Climbers

Start in a plank position on your hands and toes, with your body in a straight line from head to heels. Engage your abs and pull in your core so you’re not sagging at the hips or arching too much at the lower back.

If you have trouble keeping good form, hold onto a pair of dumbbells for added resistance as you run through this exercise.

Quickly flex one knee to bring it up toward your chest as far as possible; then switch legs by extending that same knee back out behind you until both legs are extended again—you should have changed from one side to another without pausing or breaking the rhythm!

Repeat this movement repeatedly, taking care not to let either leg touch down before switching sides—this way. You’ll know if there’s any imbalance between them (which means those muscles aren’t getting trained properly).

Do 20 reps per set; rest 90 seconds between sets (or more if necessary).

4. High Knees

High knees are one of the best cardio exercises you can do without equipment. They work your quads, hamstrings and glutes, as well as your calves and lower back. To perform high knees:

Start jogging in place with your arms at your sides. Lift one knee toward your chest while keeping the other leg straight. Make sure that the heel remains on the floor throughout this exercise — don’t let it rise off!

Lower down into a squat position before bringing that same leg back up again so you’ll be running in place once more. Repeat this motion for 60 seconds straight (if you’re starting) or until fatigue sets in (for regular exercisers).

Rest for 30 seconds before doing another set of high knees for an equal amount of time; rest another 30 seconds before repeating if desired (for three sets).

5. Skipping Rope

You may have skipped rope as a kid, but it is still a great cardio exercise that can be done anywhere. It’s also great for your coordination and helps with hand-eye coordination.

The basic skip involves jumping over the rope when it’s under your feet, while two-handed crossovers involve jumping over the centre of the rope instead of over one side at a time.

Double unders are when you pass the rope around twice with each jump before landing on both feet underneath it again.

You’ll want to start slow—skip for about 5 minutes before increasing speed or adding more complex patterns such as double unders or alternating hands when doing crossovers.

6. Squat Jumps

Squat jumps are a great full-body exercise that can be done anywhere. This simple movement requires minimal equipment, but it still offers a high level of intensity and helps you burn calories fast.

Here’s how to do squat jumps:

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold your arms in front of you like parallel bars on an elliptical machine. Keeping your chest lifted, squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor (or slightly lower).

Jump up as high as you can, landing softly on both feet without letting them touch the ground between jumps. Repeat for 10 to 15 reps, then rest for 30 seconds before moving to another exercise or challenging variation.

7. Plank Jacks

Start in a push-up position with hands directly under your shoulders, knees on the floor hip-width apart and feet about 1 foot apart.

Raise your right leg straight up, then bring it down to meet your left. Repeat with the left leg. Keep your body straight, your core tight, and your heels on the floor throughout this exercise.

8. Knee Tucks

This exercise is the perfect example of a simple, no-nonsense move that works. Keep your knees bent and raise them to hip height to perform it. Alternate legs for 30 seconds, then rest for one minute. Repeat this cycle three times per session.

The Bottom Line

These exercises are perfect if you are looking for a new way to challenge yourself. They can be done at home or the gym without special equipment. You will feel the burn!