Understanding Endurance

Endurance, technically called cardiovascular endurance, is the ability of the cardiovascular system (heart, lungs and blood vessels) to deliver an adequate supply of oxygen to exercising muscles. Blood must flow from the heart through the blood vessels to the lungs to pick up oxygen that can be delivered to the muscle. Nowadays various labels are given to cardiovascular endurance, e.g. aerobics, cardio, low impact aerobics, high impact aerobics, etc.

A lot of people think that exercising in the gym on popular music is aerobics. But, there is more to it than just walking on the treadmill. There are four rules for aerobic activity, so as to optimize the training. The exercise should be:

• the correct type

• done at the proper intensity

• of sufficient duration and

• done with adequate frequency