Say Yes to Aerobic Exercise

All the exercise advice you read suggests that a sound exercise program should include aerobic exercise, strength training, and stretching. I don't disagree with this information, but it seems to me that too many people end up not exercising because they think that if they can't do it all then it's not worth doing. And, they don't feel they have time do each type of exercise. Thinking this way is a big mistake. Any amount of exercise is better than no exercise. But, in my opinion, if you have to choose only one type of exercise, it should be aerobic exercise.

Strength training helps improve your muscle tone and the strength of the various muscle groups that you exercise. This is important in any overall fitness program. Muscle strength allows you to more easily perform many everyday tasks. One of the muscles that is strengthened during strength training is the heart muscle. The heart is the most important muscle in the body. But, strength training is not the best form of exercise for strengthening the heart. Aerobic exercise is.
For Step Shop for Clothing. Compare & Buy from 1000's of Stores.

When aerobic exercise is done properly, it increases both the strength and the efficiency of your heart. As I said earlier, the heart is the most important muscle in the body. The pumping of the heart keeps oxygen and nutrients going to all the various parts of the body. Without this supply mechanism, we can not survive.

The newest information from the American College of Sports Medicine(ACSM) indicates that aerobic exercise sessions as short as 10 minutes in duration can help you to improve the strength of your heart. To be effective, the ACSM says that this kind of exercise has to increase your heart rate to at least 60% of your maximum heart rate. And, if you do these short duration sessions, you should try to do at least two to three sessions per day.

As is the case with all forms of exercise, a lot of people say that they can't find the time to do aerobic exercise on a regular basis. It can be a challenge, but the real key is to find exercises that you enjoy and can fit into your schedule. This isn't as difficult as you might think. Realizing that you can do aerobic exercise sessions as short as 10 minutes should make it easier to fit these sessions into your schedule. Now, try to think of all the different kinds of aerobic exercises that you enjoy and will fit in with your lifestyle. This may take some creativity, but it might be easier than you expect.

Here are some forms of aerobic exercise that you might want to consider: walking, jogging, running, biking, exercise bike, swimming, jump rope, dancing, jazzercise, aerobic dance, skipping, jumping jacks, cross country skiing, ice skating, elliptical trainer, stair climbing, or any other kind of exercise that will raise your heart rate to at least 60% of your maximum and keep it there for at least 10 minutes. Remember that you don't have to do the same exercise each time. You can "mix and match" different forms of exercise, which in some circles is referred to as "cross training". As an example, you could walk the dog (briskly) for 15 minutes after he does his thing in the morning, at lunch you could spend 10 minutes climbing the stairwell in your office building, and after work you could spend 15 minutes on the exercise bike in the corner of your family room while you watch the evening news. Doing the math and putting this together gives you 40 minutes of acceptable aerobic exercise for one day. Now, that wasn't too hard was it?

All you have to do is think about the different parts of your life and decide where and what you can do to fit some aerobic exercise into the things you already do. Remember, a complete exercise program is ideal. But, if you don't think you can fit it all in, try to figure out creative ways to at least include 30 minutes of aerobic exercise in your daily routine. Say yes to aerobic exercise.

*******************

Online fitness coach Tom Manfredi is the creator of the site fitness-after-50.com. He has a master's degree in exercise physiology and over 20 years of practical exercise experience. This site is designed with the mature adult in mind. Learn more by going to fitness-after-50.com. Read more!

Kapalbhati Pranayama (Cleansing Breathing Exercise) Step by Step and Shining Face

Kapal in Sanskrit means FOREHEAD, and Bhati in Sanskrit means SHINING. Practicing Kapalbhati on regular basis leads to shining face with inner radiance. Kapalbhati is highly energizing abdominal breathing exercise.

What we do in Kapalbhati Pranayama

In Kapalabhati we do quick exhalation and natural inhalation. Normally exhalation takes one fourth of the time of inhalation. Quick exhalation and natural inhalation follow each other.

How to do Kapalbhati Pranayama

Step 1) Sit in comfortable crossed leg position with Back straight. Hands resting on knees in either chin or gyana mudra. Face to be relaxed.
step Quality car seats, strollers, toys & accessories for children

Step 2) Inhale deeply through both nostril, expanding abdomen and exhale with the forceful contraction of abdominal muscles. (Pull the abdomen in by quickly contracting the abdominal muscles and exhale through the nose). The air is pushed out of lungs by contraction of the diaphragm.

Step 3) After exhalation again inhalation but inhalation should not involve any effort. To inhale just relax and the lungs will automatically expand and filled with air. One can begin with 15 respiration. After completing 15 quick exhalation and natural inhalation , inhale and exhale deeply. This is one round.One can start the practice of Kapalbhati pranayama with 3 such rounds for practice.

Benefits of Kapalabhati

1) Kapalabhati cleanses the lungs and entire respiratory system.

2) The blood is purified and body gets an increased supply of oxygen to all cells.

3) Digestion is improved.

4) Abdominal muscles are strengthened.

5) Prepare the mind for meditation.

6) Energise the mind for mental work.

Precautions: Kapalbhati should not be practice by those a) Suffering from heart disease b) High blood pressure c) Hernia d) Should never be practiced when an asthmatic attack is in progress. e) If pain or dizziness is experienced ,it is preferable to stop the practice till the sensation has passed. Practiced can be restarted with less force. f) Quick exhalation should be comfortable to oneself. i.e. quick exhalation should not be too forceful.

Common Mistake: 1) Abdomen is contracted while inhaling. 2) Shoulders are contracted to push the air out when exhaling. 3) Back and shoulders move during exercise.

Point to Note: a) Exercise should not be done if you are feeling uncomfortable at any time during the exercise. b) Rapid breathing used in this technique should be from the abdomen and not from the chest. c) Kapalbhati should be practice on an empty stomach only. d) Kapalbhati should be practiced after the asanas and Relaxation (atleast 10 minutes) and before meditation e) Chest should not move very much. (f) It is always good and advisable that this exercise should be learned under supervision of yoga teacher after discussion with him about your health.

Mr Subodh Gupta,is consultant with NIE The Times of India group (India's largest Media Group).He has been Interviewed by various TV channel channels in India and London. Mr Gupta has organized more than 500 workshops on Yoga and Stress Management.

Please click here for reaching to Subodh Gupta website Subodh Gupta webSite and for blog Subodh Gupta blog Read more!