Does Your Current Exercise Practice Increase Or Decrease Your Stress?
At this point, we all know the purpose of exercise is to improve our physical health through activities that strengthens our bodies. As time has passed, our ability to exercise with greater efficiency has been enhanced as our understanding of how and why exercise produces health in our bodies has expanded. This enhancement has produced our current exercise procedures that are designed to help maximize our efforts and therefore hasten our results. As a fitness professional with over ten years in the health field, I believe the "science" of exercise has created another worrisome (and unnecessary) "checklist" to add to our already overly burdened lives. Now, the average health enthusiast spends a great deal of their energy and time concerned with: counting calories, whether this exercise is the "best" exercise, what is the "right" number of reps and sets and how can I get the "maximum exercise benefits" in the least amount of time.
Of course, lets not forget that a great many of us are motivated to not only exercise for health reasons but also because of: the fear of being overweight, the fear of not fitting in and the fear of not looking good. Additionally, exercise itself is a physical stress. The traditional "no pain, no gain" philosophy is based upon pushing ourselves past our physical comfort zones in order to decrease body fat while increasing lean muscle mass. The very nature of this philosophy produces more physical discomfort than it does physical pleasure. A simple health rule is that painful experiences cause our bodies to close down (leading to aches, pains and eventually dis-ease) while pleasurable experiences helps the body to open improving balance and health.
With all this stress associated with exercise I believe our focus has shifted from improving the way we use and live in our bodies to worrying if we are exercising "correctly". This has left us little room to enjoy this process of getting to know our bodies better. However, this philosophy may not be healthy for you if:1.Each day your body is under significant amounts of mental and physical stress. This unreleased stress eventually evolves into physical discomforts, aches and pains. This can prevent you from moving freely and thinking clearly.2.You find the process of exercise to be painful or boring.
If during exercise you find your body tightens even more, then all you are doing is deepening a negative or unpleasant association between your body, exercise and stress.Body and mind associations are very powerful and long lasting. How you have digested past body experiences dictates your current body image. Positive life experiences created positive body images while negative life experiences created negative body images. My solution is to begin consciously practicing moving your body in ways that produce more freedom. Freedom feels good and causes us to open to ourselves.
It will deepen the connection between your body and mind. This creates a positive pleasurable mental association between your physicality and your body.The more you reinforce this association will eventually deepen the amount of balance, health and peace you have in your life. I believe the key to this situation is adding two elements to your exercise routine.1)Practice Releasing The Day's Tension Before You Exercise. When your body is free to move your experiences of exercise becomes more fulfilling and personalized. Apply your creativity to your movements and exercises.
How can you make exercise more enjoyable? Here is a progression:a.Starting with easy and slow movements with little to no weight or resistance, learn to enjoy the freedom of just moving and flowing with your body. b.Pick movements that challenge your mind. There are so many toys in our modern gym that you can play with. Check them out and get some help if you are unsure. I.e.
add core training to every exercise you do. c.Learn to express yourself through your body. Personal physical expression is a great way to relieve stress and open your body. As your body opens your ability to exercise with greater intensity builds. The more pleasure you receive the more you will want to move and push your limits.
Eventually, believe it or not "no pain, no gain" feels good!2)Change Your Personal Definition Of Exercise.I believe that exercise is a means to learn how to improve the way you use your body. This improvement can be done through any activity that you like. In fact, I suggest finding an activity that you like and make that your major mode of exercise. Performing activities that you hate only increases the amount of stress you are under. If you enjoy moving your body the results you want will come quicker.
Have the major focus be on the moment-to-moment process of exercise and begin to view the results as the "gravy". Sheldon Gerard Ginsberg is the President of FitPath Health Services, a Florida based fitness and health program. To learn more you can visit www.thefitpath.com or call 786-276-6143..
Mr. Sheldon Ginsberg President of FitPath Health Services holds a BS in Exercise Science from SUNY at Buffalo. In addition, he has obtained advanced certification as a Strength and Conditioning Coach from the National Strength and Conditioning Association and he is also a 12th level Reiki Master Teacher. To learn more go to www.thefitpath.com.Facial Exercise Lifts Minority?s Faces
Women of color want to look younger and they want to do it without risk!
In the last twenty years, extreme scarring, discoloration, loss of certain ethnic characteristics and high costs have kept Afro-Americans, Hispanics, Asians and other non-Caucasians from seeking plastic surgery but with the advent of improved suture techniques, new procedures and shows like "Extreme Makeover", more and more minorities are considering using cosmetic surgery to improve their appearance
"The way plastic surgery statistics have escalated, especially among people of color, the trend to "look as young as you feel", has left no one out," declares anti-aging expert Cynthia Rowland, Los Angeles.
Statistics show a 65% increase in plastic surgery among ethnic groups over the past five years.
According to Minority Nurse Magazine, "more Americans are getting face lifts and other types of cosmetic surgery these days, and more of those faces being...
Exercise > Facial Exercise Lifts Minority?s Faces
Exercise and Womens Weight Loss Plan
Exercise and Women's Weight Loss Plan: Proper Diet +Exercise=Weight Loss
Have you had a difficult time deciding what to eat each day? It is so frustrating trying to decide: -What to eat? -How much to eat? -How much exercise? You need the exercise and women's weight loss plan!
I understand because I have been there and am still struggling with these choices on a daily basis. When you put all of this together, exercise and changing you're eating habits you will feel great and look great!
Each day you're going to rely on the right carbs, protein, fat, and this will enable you to live happily without the bad carbs, processed sugar and bad fat. As a result you are going to get healthy and loose weight. -You will eat normal size portions of meat, chicken, fish, turkey (remember most peoples portions are too large) A normal sized portion is the size of the palm of your hand. -You'll have plenty of vegetables, eggs, cheese, nuts.
-Salads. -No bread for two weeks...
Exercise and Womens Weight Loss Plan
Exercise > Exercise and Womens Weight Loss Plan
Golf Exercise And Stretch Program For Total Golf Performance
Golf exercise and stretch.
This is a combination I use in all of my golf fitness programs both online and with my personal golf clients.
It's the ultimate combination to improve the golfers swing quickly and efficiently.A fitness program for golfers that does not incorporate a golf exercise and stretch is doing more harm than good.
Golfers need that blend of dynamic strength specific to the golf swing and the range of motion to hold it for 18 holes.So many times I hear a golfer mention stretching only.
This is a big mistake!
Stretching without strengthening does not equal permanent range of motion improvements.
An over-stretched muscle that doesn't have strength opens up the possibilities for injury.That is why golf exercise and stretch is the key.
For every golf exercise, there is an appropriate stretch.
Taking this approach will create a powerful swing with less tension and stress put on the body.An example of golf...
Exercise > Golf Exercise And Stretch Program For Total Golf Performance
Exercise Not Enough to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease
Dallas, TX (ContentDesk) January 17, 2006 - ABC News January 16th story on preventing Alzheimer's may have led some viewers to the conclusion that regular exercise is all they need to prevent Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, exercise is just not enough."Preventing Alzheimer's and other dementias rests on a combination of six core lifestyle strategies," says Dr. Phyllis Staff, CEO of AlzheimersFree Press. "Focusing on only one strategy will leave people vulnerable to developing dementia later in life."The six core strategies include exercise, diet, a program of vitamin and herbal supplementation, regular brain stimulation, a satisfying work and social life, and consistent spiritual practice. An effective program to prevent Alzheimer's includes all six.
"This is not to minimize the value of exercise. For people who exercise often enough and long enough, it does provide a degree of protection," notes Dr. Staff. "Research has shown dramatic differences in the later development...
Exercise Not Enough to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease
Exercise > Exercise Not Enough to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease
"Why Exercise Bikes Might Be the Ultimate Fitness
Exercise bikes are the first things that come to your mindwhen you talk about home exercise equipments. Exercisecycles popularly known as exercise bikes have gained somuch recognition that they are next to TV in demand andpopularity among the household items. The best part about workouts with exercise bike is that ithas no side effects or no rules to follow. This makes it atremendous gizmo to chop off that extra fat just like that.Most health conscious people keep the exercise bike intheir home for fitness. There are fundamentally two types of exercise bikes,upright bikes and recumbent bikes.
Upright bikes are morelike real bicycles with the exception that they do not runon road. Recumbent bikes on the other hand, have bucketseats and the pedals out in the front. These exercisecycles are fit for overweight people and those sufferingfrom backaches. Exercise Bikes the Easiest Way to Burn FatUnlike big exercise machines and gym equipments, exercisebike are simple to use and free...
"Why Exercise Bikes Might Be the Ultimate Fitness
Exercise > "Why Exercise Bikes Might Be the Ultimate Fitness
Change Your Attitude About Exercise
Although exercise is one of the most powerful tools available for improving health and managing weight, even the word "exercise" can conjure up negative thoughts and feelings. If you are not very active or not exercising regularly, perhaps you have some negative thoughts of your own. Isn't it time to start thinking in more positive ways?"I know I should exercise but I hate it so I just can't seem to make myself do it." Many people have negative feelings about exercise, as can be heard by the use of words like "should," "hate" and "make myself." These thoughts and feelings come from negative past experiences like being chosen last for teams, boring exercise routines, and discomfort or pain from doing too much too fast. Some people only exercise when they are trying to lose weight so they have come to think of exercise as a punishment for their overeating. However, this time you can find fun physical activities that suit your personality and lifestyle.
You can start slowly and allow...
Change Your Attitude About Exercise
Exercise > Change Your Attitude About Exercise
The Paleolithic Diet - Should We Eat Like Our "Cave Man" Ancestors?
Copyright 2006 Tom Venuto
The "paleolithic," "stone age," "cave man," or "neanderthal" diet plans have been around for a while and there are quite a few books that have been written on the subject.
In general, with a only few minor constructive criticisms, I think they are right on point, and will benefit your health and definitely your fat loss efforts.
A "Paleo Diet" or "cave man" diet is actually very similar to the bodybuilding diets I often recommend...
Exercise > The Paleolithic Diet - Should We Eat Like Our "Cave Man" Ancestors?
cosmetic dentistry Does Your Current Exercise Practice Increase Or Decrease Your Stress?
incorporate Does Your Current Exercise Practice Increase Or Decrease Your Stress?