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4 Low-Cortisol Workouts That Can Help You Exercise Without Overdoing It

A doctor says walking, Pilates, swimming, and yoga can offer real fitness benefits without placing as much stress on the body.

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As someone who battles autoimmune disease and generally feels worse after any high-intensity workout, I’ve been trying to explore more low-intensity options that still get my body moving.

For years, I assumed workouts were only efficient if your heart rate was through the roof and you were drenched in sweat and panting. However, once my body began to attack itself, I had to learn a calmer, less intense approach to exercise—one in particular being a low-cortisol workout.

What Is a Low-Cortisol Workout?

A low-cortisol workout is exercise that doesn’t cause major spikes in cortisol, the body’s stress hormone.

“To me, the term ‘low-cortisol workout’ means exercise that provides physical and mental health benefits without placing a large stress load on the body,” says Jay Luthar, MD, a physician who is triple board certified in Internal Medicine, Integrative Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine. “The goal of a low-cortisol workout is therefore not to eliminate cortisol, but to choose forms of movement that are less likely to create........

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