WHAT SHOULD YOUR HEART RATE BE WHEN EXERCISING?

We know that getting our heart rate up is beneficial for our cardiovascular health and overall performance, but we don't always know what range is most suitable for us. There are three types of heart rates to note during exercise: resting heart rate, target heart rate and maximum heart rate. Learn how to determine what each of these should be depending on your age and training zone. 

​RESTING HEART RATE
Resting heart rate is the number of beats per minute when at rest. This means your heart is pumping the lowest amount of blood to supply your body with the oxygen it needs to maintain homeostasis. The average resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. A heart rate on the lower end is typically associated with better heart health, as the heart does not need to work as hard to maintain a steady beat. 

TARGET HEART RATE
Target heart rate is typically expressed as a percentage range. During moderate exercise, it is about 50-70% of maximum heart rate, and around 70-85% of maximum heart rate during intense or vigorous exercise. 

​MAXIMUM HEART RATE
Maximum heart rate is the rate at which your heart is beating when working its absolute hardest to meet your body's demand for oxygen. This heart rate is calculated by subtracting your age from 220. 

heart.org

To improve your cardiorespiratory endurance and get the most out of your workouts, aim to stay in your target heart rate range, excluding your warm-up and cool-down. This helps ensure you are not exhausting your energy too soon, or alternatively, not exerting enough energy to meet your fitness goals. Interval training, as performed in our FIT, Cardio & Core, TRX and Sweat Therapy classes, is a great way to include bursts of training at or close to your maximum heart rate. 

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