6 Ways To Increase Your VO2 Max (Plus 6 VO2 Max Workouts!)

HOME > NEWS > 6 WAYS TO INCREASE YOUR VO2 MAX (PLUS 6 VO2 MAX WORKOUTS!)

VO2 Max is the Maximum Volume of Oxygen (O₂) your body can uptake and utilise during intense exercise. It’s also a metric which has a direct correlation with overall health and longevity.

VO2 Max is typically expressed as a number which is millilitres of oxygen per kilogram of bodyweight per minute. The higher the number, the more oxygen you can use, and that can lead to improved endurance – and a higher VO2 Max generally corresponds with a higher general overall health and lifespan in an individual. 

Want to know what a good VO2 Max score is for your age? Check out this post.

💡 VO2 Max is a good predictor of both fitness and overall health. The good news is that it’s possible to exercise to increase your VO2 Max, no matter how old you are. 

🔑 The key thing to know: You can improve your VO2 Max by doing three hour hikes and by doing 30-second all-out running reps. VO2 Max is part of your overall health and fitness, and isn’t just one specific way to train.

It’s best to have structured and consistent training which incorporates both long, steady cardio and short, hard intervals. That means the best way to improve your VO2 Max is to do all six of these things. But if you’re new to structured training then start with easy effort cardio before slowly adding volume and intensity.