At Healthy Living Today we would like to consider what exercise could be the most beneficial for you. If you have never exercised, it would be a good idea to consult with your health care professional to get their opinion. Take it slowly and you will see the gains that you can make.
You may be asking yourself – what is best, an exercise like yoga, tai chi or pilates? Do you join a group or do you exercise alone? Or is going to the gym and working out with a personal trainer the answer? This might be what you want to help keep you on track and motivated.
Preferably at Healthy Living Today, we think you should have a combination of exercises include resistance exercises and flexibility training.
The benefits of yoga, tai chi and pilates are very similar. They all increase flexibility while assisting in maintaining good health through a series of gentle exercises combined with breathing.
Yoga is composed of a group of asanas (positions) that benefit the various joints of the body, ligaments and tendons. It is also an excellent way to tone the muscles. It is a way of gently massaging all the internal organs.
By the gentle stimulation of the various organs and the stretching of the muscles and joints, yoga is beneficial for the whole body. Through this, the body will also flush out toxins. Through the regular practice of yoga and the benefits it provides, it helps maintain a healthy body that should remain free of disease.
Tai chi is an ancient system from China. It is comprised of gentle but powerful, flowing movements. Again, similar to yoga, it focuses the mind, while at the same time conditioning the mind. It is the shift in the balance of the body that strengthens the muscles, tendons and ligaments especially those of the hips, knees and ankles.
Pilates consists of a series of approximately 500 exercises inspired by yoga, calisthenics and ballet. It was devised by Joseph Pilates and its aim was to rehabilitate injured athletes and dancers so they could maintain a level of fitness. It is a non aerobic form of exercise that requires focus and concentration as the body moves through an exact range of motion.
In recent studies, it has been proven that the risk of osteoporosis is lower for people who are committed to doing weight bearing exercises for up to three times a week. This occurs because the weight bearing exercise builds stronger, denser bones as the muscles and tendons pull on the bones. Some of the best forms of weight bearing exercises are – weight lifting, hiking, step aerobics, jogging and dancing or any other exercise form that requires the body’s muscles to work against gravity.
Remember exercise and fitness is a big part of healthy living and you owe it to yourself to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet also.
By Anonymous