Exercising During Pregnancy

Exercising During Pregnancy

Everyone knows that exercise is very good for your
health.  During pregnancy, exercise can have many
other benefits as well.  Normally, exercise should
be light, especially during your first few weeks
of pregnancy while your body adjusts to the changes.

Any type of heavy exercise can divert the blood
flow from crucial areas, and most women that exercise
on a regular basis should tone down their workout
regimen during pregnancy.

Swimming, walking, and yoga are two very popular
exercise activities that are suitable for pregnant
women.  There are other forms of exercise such as
weight lifting that are acceptable as long as it
isn't too strenuous.  Most specialists recommend
exercise 3 - 4 times a week, unless you have a
medical condition that prevents it.  If you are ever
in doubt, you should consult a physician first.

Below, you'll find some of the best reasons as to
why you should exercise during pregnancy.
1.  Exercise can help to reduce the length
of labor and recovery time.  The right exercise
routines will also increase stamina that is needed
for delivery.
2.  Improved mental health.  Exercise can
lower stress and improve your emotional health,
making it easier for you to get through the
new experience of becoming a mother.
3.  Exercise can also help with weight
management after the child has been born.  A common
concern with most mothers is the weight they lose
after pregnancy.  During pregnancy, exercise can
make postpartum weight loss easier.
4.  Exercise is very good for your unborn
baby.  By keeping your body healthy, you are also
looking out for your baby as well.
5.  Exercise can help reduce the side effects
of pregnancy.  Symptoms such as fatigue, headaches,
swelling, and constipation are all common with
pregnant women.  Studies have shown exercise to
reduce the occurrence of these symptoms.
6.  Exercise can also decrease the risk
of premature birth.  Exercise has been proven to
decrease the risk of premature birth by at least
50%.

You should always make sure that you drink plenty
of fluids before you exercise, follow a nutritious
diet, and avoid over exertion.  You should also
listen to your body, and if you start feeling
sick you should immediately stop and rest.

If you exercise during your pregnancy, you'll find
it a lot easier to deliver when the time comes.
Exercise will help your body strengthen up, which
will make it very easy on you when you go into
the delivery room.  Women who don't exercise find
it much harder when the time comes to give birth.

Exercising during pregnancy is one of the best
things you can do for yourself and for your unborn
baby.  Your baby will reap some of the benefits,
which is reason enough to exercise.  Always be
safe when you exercise, and don't hesitate to ask
a doctor for advice if you have any questions at
all.  As long as you exercise safe and use good
common sense, you'll do a world of good for
your pregnancy.

Exercising Properly

There are two main types of exercise that you can do -
aerobic and anaerobic.  The first one, aerobic, means
with oxygen.  Aerobic type exercise has an important
distinction, it burns fat as the main fuel.

Anaerobic on the other hand, burns sugar as the
main source of fuel.  Despite common myths, exercise
doesn't have to be drastic in any way to provide
massive benefits.  Even if you choose light exercise,
you will still burn fat.

Light exercise will clear out lactic acid, which is
a waste of the body, and stimulate your cells to
regenerate.  To be sure that you are burning fat
rather than sugar, it's very important to make sure
that you are doing several things as you exercise.

The most important thing you can do as you exercise
is breathe deep.  You should always breathe in deep
into your stomach through your nose, hold it for
a few seconds and then exhale hard through your
mouth.

Second, you should make sure that you exercise at
a comfortable level.  You should exercise at a level
of 7 out of 10, and still be able to carry on a
normal conversation while you exercise.  You should
do this for 45 minutes or so each day, then
you'll begin to notice just how much your energy
will explode.

Even if you don't think you have the time to
exercise, rest assured that there is always time.
If you have to, use the time that you would
normally spend sleeping.  With exercising, you'll
actually need less sleep than before.

You can also use the time of your lunch break to
exercise as well.  The increase in productivity
will have you more on the ball, and you can save
your time through the dramatic increase in your
overall productivity.

Cellularise, or rebounding, is one of the best
forms of aerobic exercise there is.  If you have
access to a rebounder, you shouldn't hesitate to
use it.  Use any break you have at work to engage
in some type of movement and deep breathing.

Any type of exercise you do will strongly benefit
your heart.  It will make it a stronger and larger
organ.  Deep breathing will help your lungs
become stronger and larger as well.  There is
research now that links exercise to helping benefit
and almost prevent each and every type of disease
or ailment.

Movement of the joints will promote proper blood
flow and create energy, as sitting down all day
will rob your body of much needed energy.  If you
sit down all day, it's very important that you
promote blood flow, circulation, energy, brain
flow, and the strength of your heart.  With just
a little bit of your time devoted to exercise,
you'll find yourself healthier than you have ever
been in the past.

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Exercise Bikes

Exercise Bikes

When you decide to purchase an exercise bike, you
should first find a place in your home where you
can place it.  Then, you'll need to think about
whether or not you want an upright exercise bike, a
semi recumbent bike, or a recumbent exercise bike.

Once you have made the decision of which type of
bike you want, check out the reviews that are
available in bike magazines and also on the internet.
You can also take the advice of family and friends
who are currently using the same as well as
personal trainers who have experience.  The reviews
on exercise bikes are normally rates in accordance
to their performance, functions that they have, as
well as the type of material that is used for
constructing the exercise bikes.

The exercise bike that you select should be very
comfortable to sit on and the seat should be easy
to adjust, as it otherwise it would be really hard
to cycle on.  If the height of the seat is wrong,
it can put a lot of pressure in your lower area,
specifically the groin.  To find out more about
these types of features, it is very important
that you read a review as the reviews can give
you valuable information about the features
of exercise bikes.

Reviews have other advantages as well.  A lot
of times, websites on the internet will offer
special discounts on the exercise bikes as well,
which is just another benefit to reading the
reviews.  After you have read the reviews,
you'll be able to negotiate for a better price
once you talk to the sales person.

No matter how you look at it, you really can't
go wrong with reading a review on exercise bikes.
You can find out anything you want to know, as
well as get opinions from those who already
own the equipment.  A majority of the time,
you can find out flaws as well, which can save
you a lot of time and effort.

Going to local gyms is also a great way to
find out about exercise bikes.  If you don't
want to buy one or if you don't have the space
to keep one at home, you can always join a local
gym and use one there.  There are several
different types available at your local gym,
with everything from standard exercise bikes to
the newer electronic versions.

Whether you choose to buy on for home use or
use one at the gym, an exercise bike can help
you stay in shape.  All you need to do is ride
it a few minutes a day, and you'll be amazed
at just how much it helps you.  Considered to
be a part of cardio, an exercise bike can help
you lose weight and tone your body down like
never before.

Exercise For Diabetics

The most common types of diabetes are known as Type
1 and Type 2.  The Type 1 diabetes, which is also
known as adolescent diabetes, differs from Type 2
in the sense that the body will stop producing
insulin altogether.  Type 2 diabetes is normally
diagnosed in older adults and occurs as the body
stops producing enough insulin or the individual
becomes resistant to their own body insulin.

No matter what form of diabetes it is, you'll lose
your ability to adequately utilize sugar.  The
blood sugar levels will increase due to the body's
difficulty in transporting sugar into the cells
and out of the blood stream.  There are several ways
to lower your blood sugar levels, including diet,
exercise, and medication.

As a whole, exercise is a very important part of
diabetic management for both Type 1 and Type 2
diabetics.  Those that have Type 1 will find regular
exercise helps to maintain insulin sensitivity,
helps to prevent the accumulation of excess weight,
and also increases the use of glucose by muscles.
Although there is really no way to prevent Type 1
diabetes, it is possible to prevent Type 2 diabetes.

The things to consider when you attempt to prevent
the onset of Type 2 diabetes are regular exercise
supplementation with vitamins and herbs that will
help to prevent insulin resistance and proper
control of weight.

Not only with exercise help directly with diabetic
management by lowering blood sugar levels and
maintaining insulin sensitivity, but it will also
help minimize several of the complications that
can occur in a diabetic individual.  Research has
shown that walking 30 minutes each day can
diminish the possibility of developing Type 2
diabetes.

Almost all diabetics tend to develop circulatory
problems and exercise can help lower blood
pressure and improve circulation throughout the
body.  Seeing as how people with diabetes tend to
have poor blood flow to their lower areas and
feet, better circulation is a great benefit.

Even though there are risks associated with
exercise, the potential benefits will outweigh
the risks.  Exercise does indeed lower blood sugar
levels, so those with diabetes should measure
their blood sugar both before and after they
exercise.  Since your body uses more sugar while
you exercise and makes you more sensitive to
insulin, there is a risk of blood sugar becoming
too low and causing hypoglycemia as a result.

Whenever you exercise, it is important to let
others know that you are diabetic.  They should
also be informed about what they should do in
case of hypoglycemia.  To be on the safe side, you
should always carry candy or fruit juice with you
to treat low blood sugar when it occurs.

During and after you have exercised, you should
pay very close attention about how you feel, since
rapid heart beat, increased sweating, feeling
shaky, or hunger can signal that your blood sugar
levels are getting too low.

With diabetic management and treatment, exercise
is very important.  Exercise will help with blood
sugar control when the muscles use more glucose and
the body becomes more sensitive to insulin.
Exercise will also help to prevent and minimize
common diabetic complications which include heart
problems, high blood pressure, and circulatory
deficiencies.

If you are a diabetic, exercise should be part of
your daily routine.  You should always exercise at
a slow pace and never overdo it.  Also, you
should be sure to exercise around people you know
or at a gym, so there will always be people around
you in case something goes wrong.  Being a diabetic
doesn't have to hinder your life or your
performance, as exercise can help you get your life
back on track and heading in the right direction -
the healthy direction.
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Exercise Back Pain Away

Exercise Back Pain Away

According to past research and studies, nearly 80%
of all Americans will experience some type of back
pain in their lives.  The American Academy of
Orthopedic Surgeons believes this as well, as they
say 80% of us out there will encounter some type of
problem with our back before we die.

Traditionally, the treatment for lower back pain is
increasing core strength to increase flexibility on
muscles that are tight, which will provide better
stabilization of the spine and exercises to correct
the imbalances of the muscles.  The muscles that
surround the spine will provide stability and support
of the spinal column.

Every muscle between the hips and shoulders are
included as well, as these muscles are referred to
as the core muscles.  Back pain can be a result of
muscle imbalances caused by any of these core
muscles.  If the back of your thighs are weaker than
the front of your thighs, there will be an uneven
pull on the front of your spinal column.

There are some effective ways that you can integrate
core strength training exercises into all of the
exercises you perform, rather than doing just the
traditional crunches and sit-ups.  One such way
is by breathing effectively.  Deep breathing will
utilize your diaphragm muscles which will help
support the spinal column and lengthen the spine,
which is great for your lower back and supporting
you when you walk or run.

The tummy tuck and bridge lift can also help you
to reduce back pain and strengthen the core
muscles as well.  The tummy tuck exercise is a
simple pelvic tilt that draws the abdominal muscles
away from the floor.  Do perform a tummy tuck,
simply lie face down on the floor and squeeze
your glutes to strengthen your spine.

Instead of pressing into your thighs, you should
instead reach your tailbone down towards your
heels.  Perform 15 reps of each exercise and
alternate them until you have completed a couple
of sets.

For the bridge, place your feet on a bench or
on the floor and scoop your pelvis upward, as your
rib cage should stay low to reduce any irritation
to your spinal muscles.  The bridge will help to
relieve stress on your back and focus the muscle
contractions into the glutes and the hamstrings.

Other exercises for lower back pain are the lumbar
side stretch, hip flexor stretch, and calf
stretches, as all three can help to alleviate
pull on your spinal column.

Hip flexor stretch
When doing a hip flexor stretch, bring one foot
forward in a bent knee, 90 degree angle, while your
other leg is on the floor behind you with your
foot pointed upwards toward the ceiling.  The
hip flexor stretch will help to open up the
muscles of your back on the side of the spine near
your hips.  You can also squeeze your glutes as
well to deepen the stretch with each breath you
exhale.  You should begin to feel a stretch in your
back leg, in the thigh front and the hamstrings
on your front leg.

Lumbar side stretch
This stretch will bring your legs wide with your
knees bent while you sit or stand.  Simply bring
one hand down towards your foot on the inside of
the thighs and your other hand behind your head.

The last stretch will open up your Achilles tendon,
which is the most distant pull on the spine.  For
this, place an object under your foot and lean the
weight of your body forwards.  Maintain a fluid
breath while you hold stretches for 30 seconds or
so.  After a while, you should begin to feel a
stretch behind your knee and shin.

Exercise Balls

Exercise balls are one of the most innovative ways
to exercise.  These little balls will catch every
one's fancy due to their shape and very attractive
colors.  The real benefit of these balls, which
were introduced by a group of Swiss medical therapists,
is a substitute of support during exercise.

Working out with the exercise balls will strengthen
and tone all of the major muscles of the body.  The
soft texture of the balls make it an ideal choice
for Yoga positions, using dumbbells for muscle
toning, or working on heavy duty weight training
equipment.

The advantage of exercise balls is that they are
durable and maintain shape well under pressure.  The
documentation with the balls will provide test
load figures for how much weight the exercise balls
will hold.  The advantage here is the fact that the
balls provide soft yet firm support that doesn't
harm your body.

You can find exercise balls in several different
colors and finishes.  You can even get a ball that
matches the texture of your room.  They are simple
to store and you can even roll them under your bed
or a table if you prefer.  When you aren't using
them, you can let kids play with them.  These balls
are very fun for kids, as they are very soft and
won't cause them any harm.

Medical equipment
Originally developed for use in medical therapy,
the exercise ball is used to support the body
during exercise.  These balls will provide support
to the body when you do a specific exercise in a
specific position and still need to maintain the
balance.  Most exercise balls are made of burst
proof latex or other material that is very safe to
use.

There are many postures with yoga and muscle toning
exercise that can only be done with the help of
support.  For these postures, exercise balls are
quite useful.  The exercise balls will introduce an
element of stability to the exercise that you
wouldn't normally get with the floor exercise.

Your body responds automatically to the instability
to keep balanced on the exercise ball.  This will
help in strengthening the muscles that aren't
actively participating in exercise.

An exercise is also very useful for physiotherapy
treatment.  Exercise balls will help to get rid
of backache and spinal disorders.  The small
range of movement and adjustment of balance of
the spine that is induced by exercising with the
exercise ball will help reduce back pain.

The Swiss ball exercise is for people with back
pain to provide them with a simple way to restore
movements after an episode of back pain.  It also
results in improved muscle strength, greater
flexibility, and a wide range of motion of the
spine during treatment.

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Exercise As Power Source

Exercise As Power Source

This day and age it can be very difficult indeed to
go to the gym.  Life is very hectic and busy, which
will create a serious challenge for remaining
consistent with exercise each day.  Exercise is
however, just what we all need to reduce stress,
and give the body the extra energy it needs to carry
out normal living.

The best results of exercise are achieved through
the use of refined techniques, functional exercises,
cardio, the right nutrition, variety, awareness,
consistency, and motivation over a period of time.

The refined techniques mean correct form to isolate
muscles or to target areas of the body.  Efficiency
is need to ensure stimulation of the muscles.  With
weight lift training, which is also known as
resistance training, you'll need to eliminate any
type of momentum.

It is also important to move the weight about using
a full range of motion.  Full range of motion causes
the muscle to contract for the right amount of time
and help to ensure the right length of the tendons.
The goal here is to strengthen the joints of your
body by stimulating the muscles.

Cadence is also helpful, as it is a term that refers
to the rate in which the resistance or the weight
moves.  The best results with cadence are gained
by slow movements which will cause the muscle
to contract for a longer period of time.  You
can mix in a series of fast and slow cadence,
which is very beneficial with sports type
training.

Using the correct angles will achieve muscle
isolation in target areas and help to decrease
the risk of injuries, which is great for those
using heavy weights.

Functional type exercise is a popular technique
that will stimulate the core and torso of your
body while you work on another muscle group at
the same time.  As an example, when you perform
a dumbell press while lying on an exercise ball.

Your abdominal muscles and the core muscles will
contract to hold your body into this position,
while your chest and tricep muscles will push the
dumbells up.  This type of exercise and challenge
will cause maximum stimulation to your body and
keep the workout interesting and refreshing.

Cardio is another exercise that is great for the
heart and lungs.  The total number of calories
you burn is very important along with maintaining
the right heart rate.  The formula for your
heart rate is 220 minus your age times 60 for
the lower number, then 220 minus you age and
times 80 for the upper number.

This is also known as fat burning zone.  Cardio
will also de-toxify the body and help to strengthen
the immune system along with other benefits.  The
muscles will contract and pass the lymph along,
which will allow the immune system to clear away
dead cells and bring new ones in.

Anytime you exercise, warming up is very important,
as it will prepare your body for the more
demanding workout of cardio.  You should always
allow 15 - 30 minutes prior to weight lifting and
10 - 15 minutes prior to cardio exercises.  You
should also stretch as well, as this will help
get the blood flowing through your musles and
get them limber as well.

An ideal schedule for working out is to warm
up then follow with cardio.  You can lift weights
on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday then cardio
only on Tuesday and Thursday.

Even though you may think your schedule is simply
too busy to maintain a schedule for working out,
you'll find that adding exercise will actually add
more time, as you'll have a lot more energy in
your normal everyday life.  You can think of
exercise as the batteries that will help to give
your life power.

Exercise At Home Or Gym

Making the decision of where you will go to exercise
is a very important step in reaching your goals of
fitness.  A lot of factors will go into this
decision, and each one should be evaluated well
before you start exercising.  Once you have made
a decision on where you will go to exercise, you
can move on to deciding how you plan to work out.

As you probably know, exercising at home has many
advantages.  The finance department is one of the
best advantages.  With the gas prices being what
they are today, it is quite obvious that you'll
save money on fuel as well as wear and tear on
your vehicle by choosing to exercise at home.

Memberships to a gym can often be quite expensive
and may include other things that you don't need
such as child care or swimming pools.  You also
won't need to be concerned about the latest
trends of exercise gear as you most likely will
be exercising by yourself at home.

Keep in mind that working out at home does
require a bit of financial obligation.  Even
though you may plan to run, it is very important
that you have high quality running shoes.  This
statment applies to any type of equipment that
you may purchase to use at home.  If you go
out and buy cheap equipment, you'll probably
end up getting hurt or getting frustrated because
you aren't making any progress.

Along with the financial gains, exercising at
home may also help those who don't like to work
out in public.  If you are worried about how you
look in gym clothes, it is very comforting to
know that the only person who has to be with you
when you exercise at home is you.  Also, when
you exercise at home, you don't need to worry
about time at all.

Those of you who are motivated by being with
people you know or come to know while working
out away from home, a gym may be a better idea
than working out at home.  At the gym, you'll
also more of a selection of equipment as well,
far more than you'll have at home.

If you need other services than just weights and
equipment, the gym may have just what you need.
If you plan to swim a triathlon, you'll find the
swimming pool at the gym to be just what you need
to prepare yourself.  Swimming is also a great
exercise for your body and cardio, as it will work
muscles in your body that you probably didn't
even know you had.

Gyms will also offer you classes that you may find
very motivating.  If you attend class on a regular
basis, you may be motivated enough to continue
so you don't have to defend yourself when asked
where you've been or what you have been doing.
You can also meet new people in class, or just
help others along if you choose.

All in all, making the choice of exercising at
home or at the gym is a choice you should make
based on your goals and personal preference.  The
most important decision you'll need to make is
to determine what type of environment you want
to be in and how you want to accomplish the
fitness goals in your life.

Once you have given it some thought and weighed
out the pros and cons, you'll have no problem
making the choice.  Always keep in mind that
once you've made your choice, you can always switch
if you aren't happy with the choice you made.

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Exercise And Stress

Exercise And Stress

Even though exercise may not be the most exciting
word in your vocabulary, it sure is a word with a
lot of benefits.  Participating in daily exercise
will not only make you healthier in general, but
it can also diminish the effects of stress on your
body as well.

Think about all the times you have heard someone
say "the doctor says it's stress related".  Normally
people will laugh it off, concluding that doctors
say that when they don't know the real answers or
diagnosis.  The truth of the matter is that too
much stress will play a role in many diseases.

To help increase your immune system and decrease
your stress level as well, try exercise, as movement
is the key word here.  Bending, stretching, reaching
and walking.  There's really no need to buy any
expensive equipment either, as you can implement
more movement into your daily routine and reap
the benefits.

If you like aerobic exercise, you should grab a
partner and have a blast with one of the basic
aerobic videos.  Or, you can simply go out for a
walk and enjoy spending time together.  As you
may have heard, walking really is the best overall
exercise you can do for your health.  As long as
you have a pair of walking shoes, you'll be
fine.

As you go through your daily activities, make it
a point to walk a little farther, bend down and
pick something up without using a pick up stick
or moving the item towards you with your foot.
While you are sitting, you should also do some
simple and quick stretches for your neck and
shoulders.

If you enjoy sitting around watching television,
you should consider buying a jogging board.
These padded boards will make running, jumping,
or walking in place less stressful on your knees
and joints.  They are easy to store as well and
also very portable.

In many people's opinions, jogging boards are
the best pieces of equipment you can buy.  They
are also far cheaper than bulky treadmills and
stationary bikes.

There are several different exercises that you
can do to help you eliminate the stress in
your life.  Walking is by far the best, as you
can easily lose yourself and your troubles by
walking.  Even if it is just around the block,
walking can do wonders for your health as well
as stress.

If you have a lot of stress in your life, you
may want to consider a gym.  Working out then
sitting in the sauna is also a good way to
relieve tension.  If your gym has a pool, you
may find swimming to be very beneficial as well,
as it helps you to relax.
Exercise And Your Complexion

As we all know and hear all the time, exercise can
do a body good.  It can help you to stay trim, tone
muscles, and help to boost energy as well.  What
you probably don't know, is the fact that exercise
can actually help you achieve the complexion that
you've always wanted.

It's true that regular exercise will nourish the
skin all over the body with fresh blood, oxygen, and
nutrients.  As well, the increased blood flow and
circulation that come with working out will help
to draw toxins out of the body and improve the
condition of all your vital organs, including the
epidermis.

A lot of people think that sweat can trigger acne
flare ups.  The fact is, sweating is great for any
type of congested skin, as it helps promote the
flushing of impurities from the epidermal layer and
will clean out the pores.  As well, vigorous
exercise can actually correct the hormonal imbalances
that can trigger blemishes, therefore reducing the
likelihood of outbreaks.

Any physical routine that you like to do, such as
yoga, running, biking, spinning, pilates, boxing,
and such, will help to lessen the stress that you
encounter on a daily basis and help to prevent
stress related acne.

Keep in mind that exercise may not be a miracle
cure for everything, as you may still experience
breakouts from time to time although your acne
will certainly be less severe and last for a much
shorter time frame.

Exercise is also great for other skin conditions
that may or may not have to do with the presence of
acne. Your skin losing its elasticity or becoming
thin and less resilient is something that we all
encounter.  This is a common problem for may of
us as we get older.

As we all get older, we start to lose collagen,
which will make us look tired.  As many of us
don't know, physical activity can actually help to
promote the growth of collagen in your skin cells,
which will plump up your facial skin and make
you look younger and more vibrant.

If you are worried about wrinkles, you should
consider relaxation that comes after you exercise.
This has the effect of making your muscles, facial
muscles included, soften up.  What this means,
is that your lines will appear less pronounced,
helping to contribute to the youthful look that
you are trying to achieve.

With exercise you can achieve a smaller waist,
better muscle tone, softer skin, fewer blemishes,
and an overall younger, more fresher look.  If
you've wanted to add or change to your complexion,
you shouldn't hesitate to exercise.  Exercise
will help you feel more alive as well as improve
your body.  All you need to do is take a little
bit of time out of your schedule to exercise -
its as simple as that.

PPPPP

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Exercise And Play

Exercise And Play

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.

The role of play and exercise in the life of a young
child will provide them with several benefits.
Exercise of the body is a very important part of
keeping the young body fit as it grows into an adult
body.  Once we reach adulthood, if we've had the
benefit of exercise and play, we all tend to
continue that habit well into our adult years.

Play is also good in the form of participating in
organized sports, coordinated play times, and being
a member of a large group during all of these types
of activities.  Playing on this level will teach
us how to interact with peers and perform as a
team with our fellow players.  In today's business
world, these skills are essential.

What we learn in body language, coping skills, and
the interaction of the mind and body during our
interaction with others is invaluable.  When we
learn this skills to the fullest, not only will
we learn how to get along with others, but we will
also learn how to interact better with ourselves.

Although interacting with ourselves seems like
a rather pointless exercise, it is actually an
important part of maintaining the best sense of
health and wellness.  There will always be times
when our bodies are trying to tell us things
about our physical or mental condition, which we
will simply refuse to listen to.

Through exercise and play, we will also learn
what our limitations are - both physical and
mental.  At times of play, you'll see children
and young adults push themselves to their limit
and beyond.  As children, we are all more able
to distinguish between a real limit versus what
society itself calls our limits.

For children and young adults, the pressures of
the world don't affect them near as much as it
does adults.  Children have a much better state of
mind and peace, unlike adults that have let the
outside influence the body and mind, which will
do little more than becoming a dominant factor of
time.

As you can tell, the benefits that are gained from
exercise and play time as children, will benefit
us for the rest of our lives.  As adults, we all
too often forget how important both exercise and
play are.

Normally, we want to rush children into their
daily responsibilities, forgetting that at their
age they need play and interaction for their young
minds.

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Exercise And Sleeping Better

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.

Research and studies indicate that there is a direct
correlation between how much we exercise and how
we feel afterwards.

You should try and increase your physical activity
during the day.  The goal here is to give your body
enough stimulation during the day so that you aren't
full of energy at night.

Your body requires a certain amount of physical
activity in order to keep functioning in a healthy
manner.  It is also important to note that you should
not be exercising three or four hours before you go
to bed.

The ideal exercise time is in the late afternoon or
early evening.  You want to make sure you expend
your physical energy long before it is time for
your body to rest and ready itself for sleep.

You should attempt to exercise at least three or
four times a week for a period of 30 minutes or so.
You can include walking or something simple.  If
you prefer, you can include strenuous activities
such as running as well.

The goal here is to increase your heart rate and
strengthen the capacity of your lungs.  By adding
a regular exercise activity to your daily schedule
will help you to improve your overall health and
help you emotionally as well.

Along with running and walking there are several
other physical activities that you can add to your
daily life to increase your level of physical
activity.  If you are battling not sleeping, you'll
find aerobic exercise to be the best.

Your goal with exercise is to increase the amount
of oxygen that reaches your blood stream.  Overall,
there are many types of aerobic exercise for you
to choose from.  The activities include running,
biking, using a treadmill, dancing, and jumping
rope.

There are some non aerobic exercises that you may
find beneficial to help you solve your amnesia
problem.

Yoga
Yoga is an exercise that has a stimulatory effect
on your nervous system, especially the brain.  Yoga
utilizes breathing techniques and yoga postures to
increase the blood circulation to the brain, promoting
regular and restful sleeping patterns.  The regular
practice of yoga will help you to relax as well
as relieve tension and stress.

Tai Chi
Tai Chi is an ancient art of breathing and movement
that was developed by the Chinese monks.  The
movements involved are slow and precise, which is
ideal if you have joint pains or you are unable
to participate in high aerobic exercises.  Research
has shown that Tai Chi can help with insomnia by
promoting relaxation.

If you discover that you don't have any time to
exercise on a regular basis, you should try to
sneak moments of activity into your schedule.
Whenever possible, you should take the stairs instead
of the elevator, as little things like that will
do wonders for your body.

You should also park your car around the corner and
walk that extra block or two to get to your
destination.  As you may know, there are many small
things you can add to increase the activity in
your life.  Your overall goal here is to have a
healthy and well balanced life - with plenty of
sleep.

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Exercise And Harm

Exercise And Harm

Anytime you exercise, your brain releases chemicals
known as endorphins that produce a feeling of euphoria,
which is known as "runners high", which is also very
easy to become chemically addicted to.

Without this rush, you'll feel irritable and out of
it until you exercise again.  Therefore, you'll go
on exercising and not listen to what your body is
actually telling you - which is to stop.

The main reason addicts will continue to push themselves
lies in what will happen when they don't work out.
Normally when they are unable to exercise, they will
display signs of depression, anxiety, confusion,
and be less happy with themselves.

Aches and pains
Over exercising doesn't only affect the mind, but the
body as well.  Exercise will initially do what it
is intended to do, give you a fit body but once you
cross the line however, it can drastic. Muscle
damage, osteoarthritis, and heart problems will all
be waiting in the wings if you continue to overdo
it.  The body has limits and if you push beyond
that limit, you'll do nothing but harm yourself.

Obsessive exercise tends to happen among those who
are new to exercise.  Therefore, if you are keen
to reap the benefits of getting fit, you'll tend
to overstep the limits.

The initial signs of over exercise are exhaustion,
which can lead to a build up of fatigue.  Keep in
mind, it isn't only the muscles that are at risk,
but the bones as well.  Many people who exercise
push themselves to the point of injuries such as
shin splints or even stress fractures, then refuse
to rest, which causes greater and sometimes even
permanent damage.

Even a brisk walk in the morning doesn't come
without risk, as walking too much can lead to
osteoarthritis.  When you walk, you are working
against gravity.  Even though you are exercising
your muscles, you are also harming your knee joints
as well.

Many people who walk up to an hour or more everyday
end up with complaints of aches in the knees.  The
fact is, jogging also harms the knees, and too
many sit ups can hurt as well.  As with any type
of exercise, moderation is the key.

You should always start off gradually, and combine
several different types of workouts, which is one
thing that obsessive exercisers forget to do.  One
of the biggest complication factors of people who
get addicted to exercise is that they will tend
to perform the same workout each and every day,
which further increases the risk of permanent damage.

Think right
You should never work out to the point where you
feel completely exhausted once you have finished.
Your limit with exercise should be 45 minutes to an
hour, four or five days a week.  When you are
finished, your workout should leave you feeling
fresh and energetic.  Every week should make it a
point to take a day's break - as your body will
need to relax and rejuvenate.

The key to achieving this completely lies in your
attitude, as exercising is the way to a healthy
life.  If you do it only to please yourself, you'll
defeat the entire purpose when you stand there on
the weighing machine.

If you take things one day at a time and don't
over do it, you'll be well on your way to a healthy
body.  Exercising can be a lot of fun and a way
to relax, if you don't rush it.  Start off slow
and gradually work your way up.  Before you know it,
you'll know how to prevent injuries before they
happen and you'll know exactly what you need to
do to remain healthy.

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