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35
EXERCISE & FITNESS GUIDELINES
No single fitness program is suitable for all. All fitness programs
should be designed by fitness professionals who are trained to
tailor the program to the individual goals and fitness levels of each
client. The following information on exercise intensity, duration,
and frequency is based on averages and is included here only as a
guideline for use by fitness professionals. Programs should be altered
for comfort and safety when necessary.
Exercise and Health
It is not a secret that lack of exercise is increasingly becoming a major health
issue. Obesity is on the rise, and being overweight can contribute to an
increased risk in heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure and other life
threatening illnesses.
Most people do not get enough activity during the day to make up for the time
they spend at their desks, driving their cars or sitting in front of their televisions.
We have learned that exercising is not simply something we must do to look
good and have a great body. Exercise is a requirement for health, and overall
wellness, not to mention it can help you feel great!
The good news is that we are seeing more and more research that indicates we
don’t have to work out intensely to see the benefits. Sure, it is great if you can
workout for 30-40 minutes at a time, five days a week. But it is not essential.
Shorter bouts of exercise can have a great effect (especially if you are just
starting out), and a little bit of exercise at a time is much better than none at all.
And what is really exciting is that research indicates that whether you are young
or old, people who workout at light to moderate intensities may have an easier
time sticking to their exercise programs than those people who work out harder
and more often.
So, you do not need to be an athlete or a fitness “die-hard” to benefit from
exercise… you just need to get started, work out at levels that are comfortable
and enjoyable to you and stick with it!
