Aerobic exercises are very important to overall health and fitness. They are what keeps the heart and other muscles in shape and should be performed at least three times a week.

There are a wide variety of exercises that fall into the aerobic category. As a general rule, as long as you keep your heart rate up for at least 30 minutes, you will get your aerobic work out in for the day. If you are trying to actually lose weight by burning off calories, a 45 work out is recommended.

One great form of aerobic exercises is jogging in place. While this may be a bit harder on your legs than say riding the stationary bike or running on the treadmill, it is an exercise you can do on your own without the aid of a machine. If you are concerned about the impact, try it on a carpeted floor.

Another great aerobic exercise is jumping jacks. This exercise has been a part of the fitness routines in grade schools for many years and still holds true today. You can repeat this exercise several times, usually between 25 and 30 before switching to another exercise. You may even want to switch between jogging in place and jumping jacks if you are looking for variety.

Dancing is another great aerobic activity. There are many different types of dancing one can do that will really keep the heart rate up. When warming up or cooling down you may choose a slower step while the aerobic part of your workout should be lively and fun. Music should definitely be used for this part as it will help you maintain both rhythm and consistency.

As stated above, the exercise bike and treadmill both provide an aerobic workout. The machines of today even have the capability of allowing you to keep up with the number of calories you are burning when they are in use and the amount of time you have exercised. You can even set up specific fitness routines with certain models.

Aerobic exercise comes in many forms and should be performed on a regular basis. It is crucial to overall health but is great for the cardiovascular system. You may even decide to switch off, performing different exercises on different days. No matter which you choose, make sure you stretch to warm up and cool down and are steady with your technique.