This page covers information for Beginners, Reasons for exercising and some of the
benefits and
provides information on the type of exercise in the Fitness and Fun classes. It also
has links to other pages (at the bottom of this page) and information on the
benefits of aerobic exercise for
older people - YES MUCH OLDER people, even those in their 90's.
Couch Potato?
- Been away from exercise for a long time?
- Want to
increase fitness levels?
- Finding everyday living a bit more of an effort than
it should be?
- Want to tone up and trim down?
- Trying to return to fitness
after an accident or illness?
(Check with your medical practitioner first
in these cases).
Why Exercise?
Regular exercise can:
- increase your fitness levels
- reduce stress
- tone
your whole body
- improve your quality of life and
- give you extra energy for living.
If you haven’t exercised for a long time - be sensible, start easy and slow.
Work to your own level of fitness. Provided your medical adviser agrees,
try brisk walking, and increase the length of time and the level of exercise
gradually over a few weeks. When you’re ready, try an exercise class - see what
suits you best. Remember, you’re most likely to stick at something you
enjoy. Find a form of exercise you like and make the decision to stick to it regularly
every week. If you can, bring a friend along - it will help you both
to stick at the classes. Exercise can only help if you DO IT.
This is NOT a medical website. Please consult your medical adviser if
you have any concerns about your fitness or ability to take exercise of any kind.
Aerobic Activity
Aerobic activities include: brisk walking, biking, jogging, swimming and aerobic classes.
Aerobic means "with air or oxygen" and you should be able to carry on a short
conversation while doing aerobic exercise. If you are gasping for air
while talking, you are probably overtaxing yourself. On the other hand, if you
feel you could sing an opera at the same time, you may not be giving yourself
enough of a challenge.
It is important to work at your own level at ALL times.
If you are too tired to continue exercising in an aerobic class, or in any aerobic activity,
lower the intensity, eg in a class, march in place for a while until you can start again.
Don't just stop in the middle of aerobic exercise. Your body will be
sending extra blood to the muscles and stopping suddenly
can lead to muscle cramping and dizziness (this is why all aerobic
classes have a cool down at the end of the aerobic section).
Aerobic exercise improves the heart and lungs by
increasing the oxygen circulating in the body and helping the heart
use oxygen more efficiently. This is the "cardio-vascular" part of fitness.
To maintain fitness take aerobic exercise
at least 3 times a week, and if you want to increase your level of fitness, try exercising
4 to 5 times per week. It doesn't have to be a class every time, though you may
feel that going to a class is the best way of motivating yourself
to improve your fitness level. Try different forms of exercise and different
classes - variety is the spice of exercise too.
For more information - try these Fitness Links.
If any of them don't
work for you, try copying and pasting the address into your browser's
address bar.
(www.Fitnessandfun.co.uk is NOT
responsible for the information on other sites.)
http://kirtland.cc.mi.us/~balbachl/aeroprin.htm
http://k2.kirtland.cc.mi.us/~balbachl/fitness.htm
http://www.bodytrends.com/gourley.htm
http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwfit/aerobice.html
http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwfit/index.html
http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/fit/work_it_out_p2.html
http://www.healthatoz.com/atoz/fitness/cardiocraze/aroexcer.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/01/010117074808.htm
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m1264/7_31/67263601/p1/article.jhtml?term=how+aerobics
http://www.personalhealthzone.com/fitsports.html
Never too old
http://www.weightlossdietzone.com/elderaction.html
