Do not get hung up on fad exercises - be a stickler for consistency instead! When it comes to exercise, you have many options. However, it all starts with finding an activity that YOU enjoy. This article gives some tips for making exercise enjoyable.By Machelle Lee
Guess what? There really is no 'best exercise.' Fad exercises will always come and go, but the best thing for your body is that you are consistently active. Work out regularly and remember that you must challenge your body in order to reach your desired goals. Do not get hung up on fad exercises - be a stickler for consistency instead! When it comes to exercise, you have many options. However, it all starts with finding an activity that YOU enjoy. Will you find the time for a workout today, or will the busyness of the day leave you exhausted on the couch? If you are like most people, exercise does not top your list of favorite things to do. Most of us would rather immerse ourselves in a piece of chocolate cake, enjoy a favorite TV show, or dine out with friends instead of sweating in the gym. However, our favorite things are often those that expand our waistlines, and by now we all know that larger waistlines mean an increase in a plethora of health problems, not to mention an overall decrease in your quality of life. So maybe exercise is not such a bad idea after all... It is just that you hate to exercise. It may be time to change your attitude toward exercise. If you start exercising by telling yourself how much you hate it, and how you wish that you were doing something else instead, chances are you will not enjoy it. Most people avoid doing things that are not enjoyable. It is time to open your mind to the possibility that you can enjoy exercise. In fact, when done correctly, exercise is a pleasant experience. Take a minute to ponder the following: Have you written off exercise based on a particular type of routine? Maybe you would enjoy something different. No one can deny how great it feels to accomplish a challenging workout. It is rewarding, invigorating, and feels great. You simply need to find the right form of exercise for you. Try to pinpoint the main reason that you dislike exercise. Is it the uncomfortable workout clothes that you own? Maybe it is time for a new style. Is it trying to decide what machine to use at the gym? Maybe it is time for a personal trainer. Is it the pain that you feel in your shoulder when swimming? Maybe it is time to find a new form of cardiovascular exercise - one that will not aggravate your injury. There are many different forms of exercise that will give you the results you want. Don't like the gym? There is a program for you. Don't like running? There is an alternative. Don't have the time? There are time-friendly exercise routines that will give you incredible results in under an hour.
About the Author: Machelle Lee owns and operates The Invisible Gym in Santa Cruz, CA. Her mission is to inspire people to become physically active and enjoy the benefits of a balanced, healthy lifestyle. For more information and answers to your questions, visit her website: www.the-invisible-gym.com.
Monday, October 1, 2007
What is the Best Overall Exercise?
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Yoga Beginner - Getting It Right
When it comes to promoting relaxation and reducing stress, nothing beats yoga. Unfortunately this isn't the case for everyone. Most people who quit yoga think they fail because they are unable to get the positions and technique right. In fact, the reason they fail is that they put too much importance on getting the positions and technique right.
I do not profess to be a master of yoga. In fact, I am a beginner, with very little skill. However I have taught drumming for many years, and the pitfalls are similar. Here is my advice for yoga beginners.
Week 1 - Enjoy the activity:
Grab a beginner yoga video and set up your mat in a place that you can be comfortable and alone (there's no room for self-consciousness in this step). Go through the exercises, but act as though you are a six year old having fun, rather than an adult worrying about technique. Try all of the positions, don't worry if there are some you can't perform right away, modify as necessary.
Week 2 - Examine the sensations:
By this time your body has probably memorized the routine (if you have been having fun and not obsessing about technique, your body will have learnt the movements quickly). Try to concentrate on your breathing. Be aware of how oxygen and energy are flowing to, from, and through the various body parts. Feel the release of tension and sensations in your muscles.
Week 3 and beyond - Observe the instructor
Most likely you have been improving your technique throughout, without even trying. You have probably figured out which yoga exercises are the easiest for you, and which are more difficult. Concentrate on the position you are most comfortable with. You are most likely so at ease with this position that you don't even have to think about it anymore. The breathing and motions should be second nature by now, so you can begin to observe and emulate details in the instructor's technique. Continue this step for each exercise.
Many people will try to learn yoga, and other activities, by only using the method I explained in week three. Many instructors are guilty of teaching this way. Unfortunately, beginners who start by obsessing about their technique may never enjoy what is described in week 1 or week 2.
