Fitness

Before we ask what aerobics is and what impact does it have on weight loss, we should learn what aerobics means. Aerobics literally means “with oxygen” or “in the presence of oxygen”.  Aerobic exercise is any activity that uses large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously for a long period of time and is rhythmic in nature.

Holidays are a time of excitement, joy, parties, and being with family. It's also a time of chaos, food and more food. Yes, the holidays are the time when most people put on a few pounds due to all the delicious treats and big feasts. It's difficult to resist super-rich foods, overindulgence, and lower activity levels. Whether it be one pound, half a pound, or five pounds, the weight goes on and rarely comes off.  There’s so much temptation. Pumpkin pies, mashed potatoes, cookies and cakes galore. The latter adds up and becomes part of what we all dread: holiday weight gain. It happens to all most everyone.

The amount of physical exercise that you exert during the day is one of the key ingredients to helping you get a good sleep at night.  The more active your body is during the day, the more likely you are to relax at night and fall asleep faster. With regular exercise you'll notice that your quality of sleep is improved and the transition between the cycles and phases of sleep will become smoother and more regular.  By keeping up your physical activity during the day, you may find it easier to deal with the stress and worries of your life.

 

A lot of people strive for flat washboard like abs. Having flat abs is also a sign of good health. We all would love to have a toned, flat stomach that we could show off. But for some people, flattening our bellies seems too impossible to achieve. However, with a few tips and techniques, it is possible to tone and flatten your belly.

Zumba was created by Alberto "Beto" Perez, a Colombian celebrity fitness trainer. He discovered that he had forgotten to bring aerobics music to a class he was teaching and had to improvise. Using his personal collection of tapes, which included salsa and merengue music, he taught his aerobics class with a Latin flavor. It was a success. Perez brought the concept to the United States in 1999 and teamed up with Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghion to take the Zumba concept global. In 2002, an infomercial deal helped the company do that. Zumba's success generated a demand for more instructors, and by 2006 there were more than 2,000 teachers around the world. As of July 2009, some 40,000 locations in 75 countries offer Zumba classes.

Obesity among children is becoming a pandemic across the globe. There are several factors that contribute to children being overweight but the most common one is due to the fact that kids are not as proactive as they used to be. Children these days tend to spend more time indoors watching hours of television, movies, and playing video games. Encouraging children to exercise, especially overweight children can take a lot of courage, perseverance, patience and determination. Raising awareness in promoting a healthy lifestyle for both children and adults alike has been brought up in light of the detrimental health issues we face. If these issues are not dealt with during the early stages of childhood obesity, serious medical consequences can ensue later on in their adult years.

Pilates is a form of exercise, developed by Joseph Pilates, which emphasizes the balanced development of the body through core strength, flexibility, and awareness in order to support efficient, graceful movement. For many years, Pilates was originally used to rehabilitate bedridden or immobile patients during World War I. Joseph Pilates believed that our physical and mental health are intertwined. He designed his exercise program around principles that support this philosophy, including concentration, precision, control, breathing, and flowing movements.

The word yoga means "union" in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India where yoga originated. Yoga essentially is a union occurring between the mind, body and spirit. What is commonly referred to as "yoga" can be more accurately described by the Sanskrit word asana, which refers to the practice of physical postures or poses. Yoga is a Hindu discipline aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility. It consists of a series of exercises practiced as part of this discipline to promote control of the body and mind. Other people may define yoga as a healing system of theory and practice. It is a combination of breathing exercises, physical postures, and meditation that has been practiced for more than 5,000 years.

Often times, when children return from playing, they look quite exhausted and ready for a nap.  This is the most accurate description, and also quite the truth, as playing is hard work.  It's exhausting to the mind and body of the child, and it plays an
important role in helping them to become productive and healthy.

 
  If you have a child of 6 to 8 years old that wants to start exercising and lifting weights, you may find yourself wondering what you should do.  While some think it is perfectly fine for children to  exercise, there are others that think differently.