Activity and Our Well-Being

What do these people have in common?

• A three-year-old girl running awkwardly to her mother across the lawn while smiling.
• A housewife, age 43, trotting in the park with her colorful running shoes.
• A skinny boy of 15 trying to keep up with the pack in a cross-country race, hoping to be part of the team.
• A 29-year-old teacher who walks to the starting line with his wife, two children and a picnic basket and welcomes his opponents with great pleasure.
• Far behind the front riders, soundly defeated, a solitary rider gives the maximum, excited because he is beating his personal best.
• A nuclear physicist, 39 years old, passing the finish line and trotting to 36th place, quite pleased with himself.

In the first description the young girl is running for the pure joy of moving. She can be compared to a young dog chasing a ball or a foal galloping in a pasture. This pleasure from the kinesthetic sensation of speed, power and natural freedom is wild and intrinsic. Her motivation is being present in the moment and embracing the joy of freedom and movement.

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Weight Training for Women

Why Do Women Need to Lift Weights?
When women hit the gym, more often than not they end up completely ignoring weights. The problem is that most women do not realize strength training or lifting weights is almost as important for their fitness as cardiovascular exercises are!

When we hear the term “weight training,” most of us conjure up images of big, muscled men sweating it out in the gym. And if you have a vivid imagination, you probably even add a few grunts that punctuate men’s weight lifting exercises to your vivid mental image. The truth of the matter, however, is that whether you are man or a woman your exercise regimen is incomplete unless you make weight training a part of it.

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Right Fitness Program

Just the thought of choosing the right fitness program can be overwhelming. There is so much information available, but how do you make the decision to take action and step into beginning a fitness program? This is something the majority of individuals struggle with. Take a few minutes and answer the following questions, honestly:
• How do I rate my fitness on a scale of 1 to 10?
• What are my fitness goals?
• What physical activities am I likely to enjoy the most?
• How much time can I devote to exercising every day?

These are the questions you need to ask yourself before you choose a fitness program. Your answers will give you guidelines on which to base your choice regarding what the most effective and enjoyable fitness programs will be for you.

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