Today's society utilizes the word exercise far too narrowly. Exercise is a word that encompasses many different activities, lifestyles, and ways of thinking. Far too many people thinking fitness is waking up before dawn and heading out for a run, or trekking to their local gym for a resistance training session. However, fitness is simply keeping oneself active, no matter what the mode of exercise is.
Many activities that improve fitness can be done without even leaving the comforts of one's home. Cleaning with a purpose; that is, making sure you constantly stay moving and put forth high effort, is an excellent mode of exercise for many stay at home moms. Furthermore, simple abdominal exercises, jumping jacks, and push-ups can make for an excellent at home routine that takes less then fifteen minutes. Throw in a few sturdy chairs, a range of dumbbells, and a swiss ball and you have yourself an excellent thirty minute workout that burns calories, builds lean muscle, and improves overall health in the body.
Exercise is also that bike ride on Saturday mornings that you enjoy with friends, that yard work getting ready for the spring, a day spent chasing children at the park, a hike through a local trail, and the accumulation of walking as much as possible whenever possible. Any of these things, and so many more, are excellent ways to achieve better health, and a better body. You don't have to have a gym membership or an annoying alarm to become active, you just need an activity that you enjoy that increases your heart rate and challenges your body to some degree.
Now, obviously as one continues to perform that same activity over a period of time they become used to it, so it is absolutely crucial to understand when to switch activities in order to keep the exercise fresh to both the body, but also the mind. Lastly, this article is not meant as a deterrent from gyms and morning runs, but rather a refreshing look at what it really means to exercise, and the various modes with which one can engage in exercise. Gyms provide equipment, both cardio and resistance, that allow for you to push your body in more challenging ways. Compounded with this challenge is the availability of trainers, excellent sources of knowledge and motivation, who will push you through the toughest of workouts in an effort to achieve the body and health of your dreams.
Regardless of what you do, just keeping doing it, and if you're not really doing anything. Now may just be the time to start. You must know that health is not a window that stays open forever. Seize the day today, enjoy the benefits tomorrow, stay fit forever.
