We all know that exercising is an important part of
maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Yet...do we do it? What
if you could give yourself permission to start small in
your exercising efforts...and still feel good about
yourself?
Exercise is essentially movement using various muscle
groups. By this definition, almost any sort of activity
can be considered exercise. The more your muscles and body
work to keep going, the stronger they become.
There are many benefits to exercising, such as increased
energy, weight loss, and even reducing the risk diseases
such as Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease.
Before you begin any new exercise regimen, it is very
important that you consult your doctor, start out slowly
and increase your regimen in simple steps.
Start Exercising Slowly
Leading a healthy lifestyle means eating right, getting
enough sleep, and exercising regularly. What do you do if
exercise is that one thing that you can't bring yourself to
follow through with on a regular basis? We lead busy lives
and can always find a reason or two not to exercise. What
if you allow yourself to start slowly? Think about these
easy steps:
-Take an extra flight of stairs instead of the elevator.
-Instead of priding yourself in finding the closest parking
spot, cheer yourself when you park a little further away
and walk to your destination.
-Walk in place or do some stretching in front of the TV
during commercials.
-Every hour or two, stop work and do some stretching.
-Reduce emails and phone calls and take a walk to speak
with a co-worker.
-Walk around the block after lunch - this simple act will
make a difference in your level of energy throughout the
afternoon.
-Turn cleaning the house into an exercise experience.
-...and create your own list of 'muscle movements'
throughout the day...just keep it simple.
Different Types of Exercising
If you are ready to start a formal fitness program in your
life, find an activity that you enjoy doing. Don't choose
an exercise program because everyone else in doing it. If
you hate lifting weights or walking on the treadmill, find
something that you love to do that gets you up and moving.
You'll be far more successful if you like the activity.
There are different types of exercise including running,
biking, aerobic classes, yoga, and walking. The best
strategy for incorporating beneficial exercise into your
lifestyle is to do a variety of exercises. For instance, a
good exercise regimen will include both cardio (biking,
swimming, running) with weight training.
How about Pilates? This form of exercising is low impact
and gentle on the body. Pilates often focuses on the
"core" muscles that are around your midsection. Pilates
aims to tone and strengthen the body's muscles.
Another option to get you moving is to join a sports team.
There are many types of sports that you can choose to play
depending on your interests: basketball, soccer,
volleyball, bowling, or baseball.
Group exercises are another choice that you can make when
it comes to getting in your weekly quota of physical
fitness. Some popular choices of group exercises include
belly dancing, kickboxing, hip-hop dance, and all levels of
step classes. When you exercise with a group of people
you're often more motivated to keep going since being part
of a group with the similar goal of getting in shape is a
powerful incentive.
There are specific Chinese forms of exercise that you may
want to explore:
-T'ai Chi. This form of Chinese exercise uses movement to
achieve peace and harmony in your mind and body. -Yoga.
Yoga uses certain body postures to reduce stress, promote
relaxation, and relieve the physical symptoms of ill health.
-Martial arts. Use a variety of marital arts, such as Kung
Fu, to incorporate exercise into your daily routine.
-Qi Gong. This form of Chinese activity combines breathing
exercises and mental exercises to prevent as well as treat
health problems and disease.
Final Thoughts
One mistake that many people make when they're deciding to
get into shape is to tackle the entire concept of "fitness"
at one time. Incorporating fitness into your life takes
time and won't happen overnight. Your body, mind, and
spirit need time to adjust to the many changes that will be
happening as you start to add exercise to your daily
routine. This is why fitness in small steps is so
important and will ensure that you're less likely to quit
when you become overwhelmed with the changes in your life.
Exercise is essential if you're going to lead and maintain
a healthy life. Select your favorite form of exercise and
stick with it so you can enjoy the benefits of a healthy
body and mind.
----------------------------------------------------
Pat Brill is co-author of "9 Steps to Starting a Women's
Group". To download your Free copy of this e-book, go to
http://www.Womens-Group.net .
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