The Karvonen formula

The Karvonen formula is a method used to determine your ideal workout heart rate. It considers your resting heart rate (how many times your heart beats per minute at rest) and your maximum heart rate (the highest heart rate during intense activity). The formula calculates a target heart rate zone by taking a percentage of the difference between these two rates (called heart rate reserve) and adding it back to your resting rate. This helps personalize exercise intensity, ensuring you work out at a level that's effective and safe based on your individual fitness level.