When you’re exhausted, burned out or short on time, the notion of slipping on gym clothes and pushing yourself to work out can feel impossible. But a casual stroll or stretching session might not seem out of reach.
A new fitness trend has rebranded these super low-intensity forms of movement as “zone zero” exercise. The term is a nod to heart rate zone training, a framework that divides physical activity into five zones that reflect different levels of aerobic effort.
As the name suggests, zone zero training is meant to be so easy it feels almost effortless, and it generally refers to any activity in which your heart rate stays below half of its maximum capacity. (To estimate your max heart rate, subtract your age from 220.) Think: Taking an ambling walk after dinner, going for an easy bike ride, playing with your kids or doing light housework.
“It’s a new term for an old concept,” which is that any amount of physical activity is good for you, said Dr. Julia Iafrate, a sports medicine physician at NYU Langone Medical Center. Many people can benefit from a no-stress approach, she added, especially if they’re used to “no pain, no gain” fitness messaging that suggests the only workout worth doing is one that feels like work.
Here’s how seemingly effortless exercise can improve your fitness, where it comes up short and the best way to incorporate it into your routine.
Less active people may benefit more from zone zero.
If you spend most of your time sitting, even adding a modest amount of movement to your day can help to improve key measures of health like circulation, blood pressure and blood sugar, said Dr. Eli Friedman, who directs the sports cardiology program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The post How Good Is Exercise That Feels Effortless? appeared first on New York Times.
