When was the last time you really moved your body to the point where you broke a sweat? For some people, the answer may be this morning or yesterday afternoon, but for many, a sedentary lifestyle has become the norm. Unfortunately, being inactive and getting little to no exercise now, can spell out big problems for you later. Heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure are all symptoms of not getting enough exercise. Exercise is an important part of maintaining our health, and it needs to be factored into our daily routines. Whether it is twice a week or more frequently, getting enough exercise is critical.
Our bodies were not created to remain inactive. In fact, everything from our muscles to our internal body systems benefit from regular exercise. There are primarily two types of exercise—aerobic and anaerobic. Aerobic exercise is any activity that increases your heart and respiratory rates. It is the kind of exercise that is strenuous and makes you break a sweat!
While aerobic exercise includes actually doing aerobics, such as in many of the classes held at gyms across the country, it is not limited to these types of exercise classes. In other words, you do not have to take a class to get aerobic exercise. Running, brisk walking that increases your heart rate, cycling, swimming, jumping rope, dancing, and climbing stairs are all forms of aerobic exercise. Anaerobic exercise does not necessarily cause your heart rate to go up, but it is another important form of conditioning. Weight training, for example, is an excellent anaerobic exercise that helps you build and tone your muscles as well as strengthen your bones. Yoga and other forms of static exercises that still utilize muscle strength are also anaerobic.
Why is aerobic exercise so important? It conditions the most important muscle in the body—the heart. It also has the same conditioning effect on our arteries and respiratory systems. The stronger our heart is, the more efficient it will be at pumping oxygen-rich blood to all our vital organs. Aerobic exercise also increases stamina and improves our overall fitness levels. It also promotes cleansing of the blood by stimulating circulation and perspiration.
Anyone who has had a great aerobic workout can testify of the sense of euphoria, strength, and overall well-being that follows a heart-pumping exercise session. This is because aerobic exercise actually releases endorphins (the feel-good molecules that give us a sense of happiness) to the brain. Aerobic exercise not only burns calories, but it increases the flow of oxygen to our organs, enabling them to work more efficiently. Among its other benefits are lowering stress, strengthening the immune system, and lowering cholesterol.
With all these great benefits, why not make a commitment to get your body moving? You don’t have to start off with an hour a day, but maybe begin with a decision to walk briskly for 15 minutes a day. Or take the stairs rather than the elevator. It is often the little changes that spark the bigger ones. By making aerobic and anaerobic exercise a part of a weekly workout regimen, you will be taking an important step in improving your health and quality of life.
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