Cosy cardio is a trend that first started on TikTok. Instead of fitness trends we’ve seen which encourage people to push themselves to extreme limits – such as running every day, a plank challenge or squat challenge – cosy cardio is about making exercise more inviting for yourself and more enjoyable. Because if you can make it seem appealing, you’re more likely to make it happen.
Creating the right mood is key when it comes to cosy cardio. So forget harsh gym lighting, booming dance soundtracks and tight, uncomfortable, sports bras. Cosy cardio embraces mood lighting, scented candles and has a definite ‘come as you are’ dress code. You don’t even have to change out of your pyjamas or loungewear if you don’t want to, and you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home.
What is cosy cardio?
The cosy cardio trend started with TikTok creator Hope Zuckerbrow. She showed her morning cosy cardio routine of lighting some candles, making herself a coffee, putting on her favourite Netflix show and hopping onto her walking pad at 6am. It’s definitely a more appealing prospect heading out in the rain to do your steps and it quickly went viral.
Is cosy cardio better than going to the gym?
While it may not be getting our heart rate as high as a HIIT routine or building as much muscle as lifting weights down the gym, those things only actually improve our fitness if we show up and do them regularly. If you find you are often skipping workouts, especially due to the dark and wet winter weather, doing some form of fun cardio regularly is more likely to make an impact on your overall fitness and well-being.
How does cosy cardio work for runners?
While many of the cosy cardio examples that we will see on social media take place in the creators’, living room or bedroom, there’s no reason why we can’t take the ethos of cosy cardio and embrace it as runners, whether we stay at home or head outside. If you have a treadmill at home, embrace cosy cardio and walk, jog, or do some Jeffing while watching your favourite TV show. Switch on some mood lighting, light a scented candle and wear whatever works for you.
No treadmill? No problem. Wrap up warm and head outside for a walk. Put on some music or your favourite podcast. Slow your pace right down from whatever your training plan dictates and do a brisk walk instead. Take a coffee with you, put on a scarf, layer up and get cosy outside. It’s all about making the idea of doing the walk, jog or workout appealing to you.
Making it a habit
While cosy cardio is a catchy hashtag, the idea behind it isn’t new. It builds on ‘joyful movement’ which encourages people to find ways to move their body that bring them joy instead of making themselves uncomfortable. It’s another (welcome) antidote to the “go hard or go home” messaging that turns so many people off of exercise.
In his book Atomic Habits, author James Clear argues that the key to making something a habit is to make it obvious and make it appealing. Cosy cardio follows the idea of making exercise appealing. You are therefore more likely to stick to your routine if you don’t see it as punishment and see it as a fun part of your day that just happens to get you moving and working towards your step goal.
