Using your first and second fingers (not thumb), press lightly on either the thumb side of the inside of the wrist (radial artery), or in the groove on the inside of the neck. Be sure to press lightly, especially during exercise, as hard pressure may cause a reflex lowering of blood pressure. Count for 15 seconds and multiply by four for your heart rate in beats per minute (bpm).

Knowing how to count your pulse rate will come in useful for gauging your exercise intensity and also as a rough estimate of your initial fitness levels. The next slide will demonstrate how resting pulse rate can be used to estimate initial fitness levels.