Heart Rate Zones

Heart rate zones are a useful way of measuring exercise intensity and ensuring you train at the right level for your goals. Lower heart rate zones are ideal for longer, steady cardiovascular exercise and building endurance, while higher zones place greater demands on your heart and lungs and are typically used during HIIT sessions. As your fitness improves, you'll often find you can exercise at a faster pace while maintaining the same heart rate. You don't need to spend every workout at maximum effort—in fact, balancing easier sessions with more intense ones is usually the most effective approach. Use heart rate zones as a guide rather than an absolute rule, and always adjust the intensity according to how you feel, particularly if you are new to exercise or have an underlying medical condition.