Why You Should Do Cardio Before Work

Training Your Mind

Did you know that within the first 10 minutes of waking up, your brain’s ability to create routine and patterns is at its peak? What you think, what you say, and what you feel all in the first 10 minutes affects your whole day. What most people say before they go to bed is “I’m going to wake up early to do…” yet most people fail to follow through. They end up waking up in a rush, forgetting their work shoes or their phone. Their routine makes their day rushed and hectic.

We have all had days that drive us up the wall. Most people have a habit of saying “I’ll do it later.” Get out of that habit! What waiting until tomorrow does is train your mind to procrastinate. It takes 21 day to form a habit—think of all the times you chose to do it later instead of now. That habit has grown and will only get stronger until you break it.

Cardio Doesn't Mean "Running"

What if I told you that you didn't have to run to do your cardio? Would you believe me? Everyone wants to know the secrets to achieving better health, but the secret is fairly simple.

The key is to sweat in the morning before your days starts.

It's that simple. Most people just don't realize the power of sweating in the morning. Sweating before sunrise is what helped indigenous tribes heal illnesses before western and other medicinal treatments were discovered. It is still practiced in Native American tradition, South American tradition, Eastern Asian tradition and European tradition. For those who live in cities or suburbs in the United States, Infrared Saunas are making its way into the lives of those who desperately need this type of healing modality.

Here in Valencia, at the heart of Santa Clarita Valley, the Sweat Box Sauna Bar is a place for people to dedicate only 30-35 minutes of their day for their health. The benefits are endless and life-changing. We recommend sweating in the morning because it has been proven that the benefits are more potent. It also has a beneficial effect on the mind; it lowers stress levels and clears thought processes.

Sweating, cardio, infrared heat, and chromotherapy (healing with light) are beneficial in the mornings before work. It will help with anxiety and stress, inspire a better performance at work, increase energy, increase positivity, relieve sore muscles, loosen stiff joints, decrease back pain, relieve arthritis pain, relieve inflammation such as bloating, and encourage weight loss.

Health writers Jenn Barthole and Kylie Gilbert reported, “Studies conducted by Binghamton University found that on average, participants who spent a 45-minute session in an infrared sauna 3 times a week lost 4 percent body fat in 16 weeks.”

7 Reasons to Get Cardio Before Work

#1: Gain more time - By burning your calories in the morning, you no longer need to make time for cardio throughout the day. Nor will you cancel or ever forget your cardio, so you WILL see results.

#2: Sweating - Studies show that those who sweat in the morning on a regular basis have lower stress levels, less body aches and pains, more energy, and are less easily angered. When we don’t allow our bodies to push out the harmful toxins, the buildup of toxins interrupt the chemistry of our bodies and create imbalance within our emotional well being.

#3: Weight Loss - When you work out in the morning, your body’s level of adrenaline increases to help you wake up. This increases your heart rate more than working out later in the day. When your heart rate increases, your body burns more calories, giving you a more beneficial work out.

#4: You are grounded - Almost all of us have experienced the benefits of waking up early and working out. Why does your day end up being productive? It’s because you aligned your mind and body with nature and with this planet. Just waking up with the sun, breaking a sweat, and getting your heart pumping helps you feel connected and grounded, leaving you with a clear mind.

#5: Time to relax - After a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is work out! So why set yourself up for failure? When you work out in the morning, your schedule will open. More time for family, daily errands, and most importantly, more time for yourself to relax and recuperate for tomorrow.

#6: Go to bed early - Go to bed early so you can wake up early. Not to mention doing this will give you time in the morning to sweat! Going to bed early has many physical and mental benefits. The mind is not programed to stay up during the night. Our mind and body is connected to the way the planet works. Our body is made up of all of the elements that comprise the earth. The very same thing that sustains this earth is what sustains our body.

#7: Trains your mind and body to be healthy - Sleep is how your body heals itself while the mind is at rest. One study says, "People who got seven hours of sleep a night or less were almost three times as likely to get sick as the people who got at least eight hours of sleep a night." Sleep experts also say a healthy sleep increases muscle mass, tightens our skin, and strengthens our bones. During sleep, your body produces and builds collagen. One source says, “Collagen is the main structural protein in the extracellular space in the various connective tissues in animal bodies. As the main component of connective tissue, it is the most abundant protein in mammals, making 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content.” It is a protein that the body makes that nourishes our skin, nails, hair.

Cardio vs. Treadmill & Elliptical

The majority of people alive today are on a morning schedule. Not a lot of places are open early for those who want to start their morning with burning calories. The places that are open require a large amount of energy, i.e. running on the treadmill or elliptical at the gym. Maybe that is why it is so difficult for people to get out of bed without clicking the snooze button! It's pretty easy to dread physical activity when you wake up. But don't sweat it!

Burning calories and getting your cardio in does not have to be difficult. Many Scandinavian natives understood this, which is why it was ideal to have a sauna in their homes, particularly in the basement of the house or back yard. Saunas are more beneficial for the health of your body than a treadmill or elliptical because it does not damage your ligaments. That's why many runners end up suffering from knee problems. Many end up having to get surgery and physical therapy from doing cardio this way. Not to mention saunas, particularly infrared saunas, allow for complete detoxification from your core of your body outward.