You know you just love to do certain things over and over without feeling bored. But there are other things that are simply not your cup of tea. Every person has different lifestyle, unique personality, likes and dislikes. Some people like fast-paced games, extreme sports or explosive power-moving activities; while others like slow-tempo activities or endurance sports.
Wouldn't it be logical to choose physical activities or workout routines that match your personality. You'll enjoy them more and stay interested longer. Exercise is supposed to be fun, not just one check-marked item on your to-do list. Sooner than later, it'll become a "postponed" or "cancelled" item.
Workout by Personality
If you're bored easily, try cross training that mixes thing up and allows you to engage in different activities throughout the week, month, season or the whole year.
If you're spiritual or like body-mind connection, try yoga, Pilates, or (internal) martial arts, Tai Chi Chuan.
If you like to do things on your own, try strength training and add some variations. You can do it solo at home or in the gym.
If you're easily discouraged, try walking. It's cheap and can be done anywhere. There is no excuse that you cannot do it.
If you're always busy, try short, frequent bursts of activity. You may not be able to schedule a block of 60 minutes to work out. But you can try to squeeze in several 15-minute periods for short and quick exercises such as walking, bodyweight circuit training, shadow boxing, jump rope, etc.
If you're a social butterfly, try anything that needs a company. Play a pickup game. Play double tennis. Go to group exercise class or spinning class. Join a running club.
If you're short-tempered or have to be constantly on-the-go, try (external) martial arts, boxing or kickboxing to release your adrenaline rush.
If you're always patient or organized, try endurance sports such as long distance running, marathon, cycling or triathlon.
Enjoy yourself and have fun!
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Why Running Is Good for Your Brain
After watching ING New York City Marathon, I'm sure your feet may be itching to run, too. The ultramaraton man Dean Karnazes also finished his Endurance 50 running - 50 marathons, 50 states, 50 consecutive days - in New York City Marathon. There are many inspiring stories in the race. Training and finishing a marathon has been a dream for many people. Although you may be still skeptical about training for a marathon and worried about injuries. There are numerous benefits from running and exercise, both mentally and physically.
There is evidence to link the creative process with exercise. For one's brain to function optimally, he needs a physically fit body. You may have experienced on-the-move insights while you're running. Founder of New York City Marathon, Fred Lebow, revealed that whenever he had a great idea during a run, he'd grab a twig and scratch it in the Central Park dirt. He'd go back later to recover his notes. Research from Washington University (St. Louis) Professor of Education, R. Keith Sawyer showed that creative people tend to schedule idle time to free up their mind to do something totally different such as listening to music or taking a bike ride. It's essentially a means of putting the analytical left brain on hold and giving priority to the sensing, intuitive right brain.
Exercise also increases activity in the frontal lobe, the part of brain involved in complex reasoning and attention. That means exercise actually keeps the brain young, which may be one of the reasons that athletes have lower rates of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. One cannot ignore these long-term health benefits from running and exercise.
Running gives you a chance to relax your body and mind and unplug yourself. It's all great to let your mind wander. Yet I suggest you try something different next time when you're running on the treadmill. Instead of listening to your iPod music or watching TV, you may want to listen to yourself and pay attention to your thoughts. You could have just that A-ha eureka moment during exercise - a great idea, a creative insight or outside-the-box solution to your problem.
Do you remember on some days that your running feels like floating? You're just able to run effortlessly, on and on and on. On some other days though, it's just alas, tough. A few tips here may help you to have that "floating" feeling more often. First, relax. You may argue that I run to relax myself, not the other way around. True. But when you're stressed, your muscles tense up and your mind gets cloudy. You don't breathe as deeply, which increases fatigue and effort of running. You may find ways to gradually de-stress yourself before running.
When you start running, run with easy and short strides slowly. Then progressively pick up speed and intensity as your muscles warm up. You can start by walking for a minute or two, then slow jogging. Gradually lift your knees and lengthen your stride for the first mile. Within 10 to 15 minutes, your body should be ready for longer run. As you run, spend more time close to the ground, not in the air. That means don't lengthen your stride with big gallops but take smaller and quicker steps.
To maintain good, upright running form, one has to have strong core strength. This would ensure biomechanically efficient transfer of power from the core to the legs and upper body. The "core" muscles includes your lower back, abdominal and hip muscles. Try to let your abs and lower back propel you. If you feel tension in the glutes, not your quadriceps or hamstrings, you're doing it right.
There is evidence to link the creative process with exercise. For one's brain to function optimally, he needs a physically fit body. You may have experienced on-the-move insights while you're running. Founder of New York City Marathon, Fred Lebow, revealed that whenever he had a great idea during a run, he'd grab a twig and scratch it in the Central Park dirt. He'd go back later to recover his notes. Research from Washington University (St. Louis) Professor of Education, R. Keith Sawyer showed that creative people tend to schedule idle time to free up their mind to do something totally different such as listening to music or taking a bike ride. It's essentially a means of putting the analytical left brain on hold and giving priority to the sensing, intuitive right brain.
Exercise also increases activity in the frontal lobe, the part of brain involved in complex reasoning and attention. That means exercise actually keeps the brain young, which may be one of the reasons that athletes have lower rates of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. One cannot ignore these long-term health benefits from running and exercise.
Running gives you a chance to relax your body and mind and unplug yourself. It's all great to let your mind wander. Yet I suggest you try something different next time when you're running on the treadmill. Instead of listening to your iPod music or watching TV, you may want to listen to yourself and pay attention to your thoughts. You could have just that A-ha eureka moment during exercise - a great idea, a creative insight or outside-the-box solution to your problem.
Do you remember on some days that your running feels like floating? You're just able to run effortlessly, on and on and on. On some other days though, it's just alas, tough. A few tips here may help you to have that "floating" feeling more often. First, relax. You may argue that I run to relax myself, not the other way around. True. But when you're stressed, your muscles tense up and your mind gets cloudy. You don't breathe as deeply, which increases fatigue and effort of running. You may find ways to gradually de-stress yourself before running.
When you start running, run with easy and short strides slowly. Then progressively pick up speed and intensity as your muscles warm up. You can start by walking for a minute or two, then slow jogging. Gradually lift your knees and lengthen your stride for the first mile. Within 10 to 15 minutes, your body should be ready for longer run. As you run, spend more time close to the ground, not in the air. That means don't lengthen your stride with big gallops but take smaller and quicker steps.
To maintain good, upright running form, one has to have strong core strength. This would ensure biomechanically efficient transfer of power from the core to the legs and upper body. The "core" muscles includes your lower back, abdominal and hip muscles. Try to let your abs and lower back propel you. If you feel tension in the glutes, not your quadriceps or hamstrings, you're doing it right.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Fight Childhood Obesity - Our Kids Need More Play Time and Less Screen Time
According to a research study by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (September 2004), the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled for preschool children aged 2-5 years and adolescents aged 12-19 years. The obesity rate for children aged 6-11 years has more than tripled over the last three decades. Appromixately nine million children over 6 years of age are considered obese.
The side effects of sedentary modern lifestyle have taken a toll on our children. According to the current alarmingly wide spreading rate, nearly half of kids in North and South America could be overweight by year 2010, up from about one-third in a recent study by International Journal of Pediatric Obesity. It's also spreading to other countries as well. Childhood obesity is like an epidemic and regarded as a national and world-wide priority.
You know that the more you watch TV, the less you exercise. According to another study from the Havard School of Public Health, people who spend more than four hours a day in front of the TV - the national average - are 47% less likelyy to accumulate the recommended 10,000 steps a day. Fitness expert Martica Heaner offers her advices and tips on keeping kids lean.
Our kids need more play time and less screen time!
MyActivity Pyramid is a physical acitivity guide for children ages 6 to 11 developed by health edcuators at the University of Missouri-Columbia Extention. The bottom level is the "Everyday Activies" where children should do as often as possible. The second level is "Active Aerobic and Recreational Activities" that children should do at least 3 to 5 times a week, such as sports, running, roller-blading and playground games. The next level is "Flexibility and Strength" that encompasses stretching, pushups, martial arts, or yoga, etc. Two to three times a week is recommended. The top level, hopefully close-to-nonexisting, is the "Inactivity" that should be cut down to a minimum.
The pyramid chart is downloadable from the University's website. It also has an accompanying activity log to help children chart their own activity, daily, weekly or monthly. It's a useful tool for school teachers and parents to help our children stay healthy and fit.
The side effects of sedentary modern lifestyle have taken a toll on our children. According to the current alarmingly wide spreading rate, nearly half of kids in North and South America could be overweight by year 2010, up from about one-third in a recent study by International Journal of Pediatric Obesity. It's also spreading to other countries as well. Childhood obesity is like an epidemic and regarded as a national and world-wide priority.
You know that the more you watch TV, the less you exercise. According to another study from the Havard School of Public Health, people who spend more than four hours a day in front of the TV - the national average - are 47% less likelyy to accumulate the recommended 10,000 steps a day. Fitness expert Martica Heaner offers her advices and tips on keeping kids lean.
Our kids need more play time and less screen time!
MyActivity Pyramid is a physical acitivity guide for children ages 6 to 11 developed by health edcuators at the University of Missouri-Columbia Extention. The bottom level is the "Everyday Activies" where children should do as often as possible. The second level is "Active Aerobic and Recreational Activities" that children should do at least 3 to 5 times a week, such as sports, running, roller-blading and playground games. The next level is "Flexibility and Strength" that encompasses stretching, pushups, martial arts, or yoga, etc. Two to three times a week is recommended. The top level, hopefully close-to-nonexisting, is the "Inactivity" that should be cut down to a minimum.
The pyramid chart is downloadable from the University's website. It also has an accompanying activity log to help children chart their own activity, daily, weekly or monthly. It's a useful tool for school teachers and parents to help our children stay healthy and fit.
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