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Benefits of exercising
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Neeta Garg(Fitness Expert,Good
Morning India,NDTV) gives information about the beauty of
balance.
Indians are increasingly joining the fitness bandwagon, with
the increase in awareness levels as suggested by recent research
studies.
Knowledge about how to exercise, has often and for how long is
gathered from the net and from ones experience but it lacks the
professionalism required to make a success out of workouts. Some
only concentrate on building brawn, ignoring the other aspects of
a balanced workout.
There needs to be an understanding of why we need to work out in
the first place. Fitness should ideally be pursued for the
invisible benefits rather than cosmetic appearances. That is of
primary importance. There are scores of people who do not take
this premise in their stride. So they toil for the singular goal
of just looking but not feeling good.
Why aerobics?
Aerobic exercises ranging from brisk walking, running, jogging,
cycling, swimming, step workouts, and kick boxing classes are
necessary to condition the heart and lungs system. These
activities can be endured for relatively longer periods, which
improves aerobic capacity, and are aimed at keeping fat
percentages in the body down and boosting the immune system.
Cardiovascular exercises also aid in coping with the high
levels of stress associated with today's lifestyles.
Why muscle strengthening and toning?
A very good reason for weight training is that although
muscles weigh more than fat, muscles take up less space in the
body. The more the lean mass percentage in the body, the higher
the Basal Metabolic Rate, an indication of a high level of
fitness, which then can actually burn fat at a faster rate. Thus,
if you are looking at a fat loss program, combining aerobics with
weight training can actually help you speed up the process, even
though this does not translate into loss of "weight" on the
scales.
Another reason why you need to train the muscles is to make them
stronger, the joints around them more resilient and the body more
resistant to injury. With age, you lose 1% of muscle every year
after 25. If they are not regularly strengthened, there is a
significant deterioration in their function. Stronger muscles,
sturdier joints and toned skin all help in
slowing the aging process.
Why flexibility?
Stretch involves lengthening of the muscles, ligaments and
connective tissues that surround joints and make the movement of
the joints possible. Therefore, stretching each part of our body
makes us more pliable and prepares us for adapting
effectively to any situation that may require movement.
Why balance and coordination?
Exercise done to improve balance and coordination help
improve the kinesthetic awareness, within oneself and in
relationship to the environment. These are finer points of a
workout but are all the same, important to complete the entire
spectrum of fitness. Activities like tai chi chuan, yoga, and
other martial arts focus on these aspects.
Why posture training?
Good posture is the very foundation of the entire body.
Posture, a harmonious interplay of the skeletal and muscular
systems, forms the structure and base of all your movements. Our
posture has a prime purpose - to provide a framework that can
carry our body through pressures and tensions, strains and
stresses, without having any repercussions on our efficiency.
A chink in any part of the framework will require compensation by
the opposing group of muscle or set of joints. Any flaw will
eventually lead to aches and pains, and other dysfunctions or
injuries all of which could be prevented by timely intervention.
Posture can be trained by being aware of the following
guidelines:
- The head and neck should be in
line with the rest of the body
- The shoulders should be parallel
to each other
- The shoulder blades should be
pulled backwards and in a relaxed position
- The abdominal muscles should
be tucked in tightly
- The hip muscles should be pulled
in lightly
- The hips should be parallel
to each other
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