Nicole SharacHealth & Fitness2-10-00Enjoyable Fitness WorkoutsIn a recent article found in Womens Sports & Fitness, there was alengthy display of outdoor and indoor fitness exercises nation wide that wereactually enjoyable. The first of these energizing activities is called Bikram Yoga. Bikram Yoga uses the technique of heat to maximize its effects. Taking place ina 107-degree studio the participants work on their yoga postures (the tree toname one), along with trying out many types of tension-relieving stretches toenhance flexibility.
Such strong levels of heat are used because the hotter oneis, the more pliable their muscles will become. Another type of excerciseincluded is called the Denver winter Sports Conditioning. This includes theparticipants wearing/carrying weights and bands as they make their ways up themountain. This technique is good for those who enjoy the act of mountainclimbing and to improve their strength and mobility for future more difficultclimbs. In Chicago there is the Athletic Total Conditioning group.
This is a teamtaught group that is packed with military-style drills including things like runningin small squares, throwing medicine balls and jumping over low hurdles. Theclass cultivates coordination, endurance, and strength. On the other side of thecountry there is the New York Urban Rebounding group. This class is for thosesick of the usual workout scene.
This class includes doing jumping lacks, kicksand tuck jumps on the trampoline, which all do wonders for the quads, calves,and abs. Rebounding is working against gravity and helps to detox the body byflushing out the wastes. In Washington, D. C.
boxing is used to not only work out the body, but tode-stress also. These 90-minute are broken down into sections. The firstsection is devoted to the basic things like throwing punches, ducking imaginaryblows, and doing some fancy footwork. Then 30-minutes on the punching bagwith a partner, and finally ab work outs on the floor. In Atlanta there is a groupcalled the Atlanta Trekkers. This group goes through an hour long treadmillclass.
Its focus is on intense hill-training where the treadmills are elevated to a15 percent incline. This group is good for those interested in prepping forspringtime hiking. Finally, for a workout a little closer to home there is theBoston Kickboxing group. This high intensity hour is a great way to vent youranger as well as improve your fitness. This workout consists of jumping rope,fast sit-ups, pushups, lunges, and squats. Then it moves over to punching andkicking your partner (with the gloves on).
I believe this article to be very helpful for pretty much anyone who isready and willing to find a source of exercise. There is so much variety involvedthat pretty much anybody could find a fitting workout. I think that the broadrange of intensity levels as well as the number of possible participants makesthese excursuses very easy to approach by most women, along with some men. But seeing that the magazine the article came from was a womens magazinethan I guess the workouts are all suitable. When looking deeper into the article and the sources it listed for theactivities, I found that most all of them were pretty high in cost.
There were afew inexpensive ones that you could do alone without equipment like yoga, andmountain climbing, but such activities as mountain climbing should be done witha few experienced people rather than alone or trying it out with a friend. I felt that some of the workouts were a bit more realistic and than othersand could see myself attempting to do abut three-quarters of the ones that Ihave listed. The Bikram yoga, which takes place in a sweltering 107- degreearea, seems to be a little to uncomfortable for me to adjust to on a weekly basis. The military-style training that has been offered in Chicago seems to be a little tostrenuous for me as well. I could maybe do something like this one or two timesa month but thats about it. I could see myself participating in the Urban rebounding group that getsits workout by doing jumping jacks and tuck jumps on a trampoline.
This seemslike a fun exercise that can lift spirits as well as attempt to help increase fitnessabilities. I also liked the idea of the 90 minute boxing classes that includes abworkouts with it. I know boxing is a stress relieving sport and the training and abworkout are good for the physical body. Another activity that I could partake inis the treadmill workout. It sounds easy to do and it also sounds like a greatworkout for your legs. And finally the mountain climbing segment is one thatgives a great feeling of inner and outer fitness.
I know that I enjoy mountainclimbing for all the aspects its has to give. Along with the physical aspect, itgives one a sense of peace and accomplishment. There is something about theway you feel after hiking a mountain and being able to look down and see howfar you have come. I think that the article was a very insightful one and gave many differenttypes of women (and men as well) alternatives to the typical workout situation ofrunning, or just being in the gym. I think that more attention should be put onhow to get more eventful ways to exercise in this country and perhaps that would lead us to a happier as well as healthier country.
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