Fitness and Your Health

Fitness and your health
Why should I start exercising now?

The answer is simple - Physical activity is an important part of good health and can enhance the quality of your life.

Regular exercise can:
* Reduce your risk of heart disease
* Help control your weight
* Increase your muscle strength
*Release everyday stress
* Help delay or prevent chronic illnesses
* Gradually increase your activity level over time and you will see the benefits of your effort.
 A good exercise regimen includes : Cardio- Our bodies were made to move around all day long; as children we did not experience any of the tensions and fatigues we feel now that is because as children we were always moving. As adults we do the direct opposite we are either sitting or standing for long periods of time, our muscles tense and become sluggish and tight. After a cardio workout we feel the direct opposite. we feel energized, flexible,blood is pumping through out our body giving it the energy it needs to feel good by supplying oxygen to our cells etc. You feel completely ready to take on anything in your world just raring to go. The benefits of cardio are:
    * Weight loss
    * Stronger heart and lungs
    * Increased bone density
    * Reduced stress
    * Reduced risk of heart disease and some types of cancer
    * Temporary relief from depression and anxiety
    * More confidence about how you feel and how you look
    * Restful and Rejuvenating sleep
    * Boosted energy
    * Showing a pattern of good habits for your kids to stay active as they get older
Even though weight loss is the primary goal of cardio exercise at times it is usually not a motivator for us to get up and get moving because weight loss is often a slow gradual process and a physical result; we are more inspired by what we feel rather than what we see. The rest of the benefits listed above are feelings so we need to refocus our ideas and purpose of exercising. our follow up article will touch more on this topic.
 Yoga- Is beneficial to the mind, body and soul. The meditative mantras is calming, supportive and cleansing to the mind and soul while the stretches help the body by increasing flexibility and lubricating the joints, ligaments and tendons. The strenuous and non-strenuous Yoga  stretches act in an interrelated manner upon the different parts of the body. when done together they work harmoniously to increase flexibility relatively easy.
 Stretch- Joint flexibility is the goal of stretching being able to take a muscle through its full range of motion is helpful to our freedom of movement and the relaxation of tight muscles soothes and balances the body making you feel good thus releasing stress in the body. 

A schedule that I have found to be very beneficial is: Cardio three times a week, yoga three times a week, and a full one hour stretch one day of the week. However it is always best to stretch before and after any exercises this is generally called the warm up and cool down session of your workout.  by Chelyah...