As adults, most of us can readily identify the
components of a healthy lifestyle and list the factors that contribute to
wellness, health and peace-of-mind. We know that being fit entails good sleep
habits, maintaining a wholesome diet and engaging in an active lifestyle. We
know this because it has been hammered into our minds through the media on a
near-daily basis.
So why then, if we know the answers, do so
many Americans continue to neglect their wellbeing? Why is obesity an epidemic
in this country? Why are heart disease ... cancer ... diabetes ... and other
diet-related diseases so rampant?
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| Obesity ... the most pressing health issue of our time |
Every day, while struggling with knowing what is right to do for our bodies we encounter a variety of hurdles and obstacles ... work, school, kids, family obligations, bills to pay, community involvement, etc. We live increasingly stressful and time-crunched lives. It is difficult to “wind down” and get enough sleep when we are always on-the-go, when we always have some place we have to be. Diet-wise, how often have we sacrificed nutrition for convenience because we were too tired or too busy to cook? And, instead of engaging in beneficial physical activities, we find ourselves spending what little leisure time we have in front of a computer or TV screen.
In short, we understand what it takes to be healthy ... but we don’t always rise to the challenge of doing what’s necessary in order to achieve and maintain maximum health.
Here are just some of the proven benefits fitness has to
offer:
• Better sleep • Better concentration • Improved emotional health • Improved heart health • Improved self-image • Stronger immune system • Greater strength and flexibility • Healthier weight
Take a look at how fitness affects some of the
maladies that plague adults:
Heart disease is one of the most prevalent killers in
our society today. Not only does regular exercise help to prevent heart
problems, but a lifestyle that lacks physical activity is an added risk
factor. Regular exercise alone lowers blood pressure and helps control
cholesterol levels. Staying active also decreases abdominal fat which has been
proven to be another risk factor of heart disease. It has been repeatedly
demonstrated that people who exercise regularly after their first heart attack
live longer than those who do not.
Studies have shown that Asthma attacks are at least partially preventable
with regular exercise. Activities that require long periods of exertion are
often not tolerated well by asthmatics; but, daily aerobic exercise can
actually help an asthmatic to develop stronger lungs as well as increased lung
capacity, thereby decreasing the frequency of attacks.
Osteoporosis – Resistance training helps to guard against
osteoporosis. And it does not matter if you use free weights or your own body
weight. Individuals who have been sedentary their whole life have a far greater
chance of developing bone density issues. With the resistance and weight
bearing that occurs during exercise, however, bones not only maintain, but may
actually increase, their strength.
Healthy weight – Proper diet combined with exercise is the key to reaching
and maintaining a healthy weight. You didn’t gain weight by taking a pill, and,
there is no magic pill that is going to make you lose excess weight -- and
keep it off – for the long term. Despite near-continuous ads on television and
in magazines touting the latest fad diets or trendy herbal fat-burning miracle
supplement, exercise is the only way to burn calories and ensure that your
body’s natural regulatory eating signals are working as they should.
The bottom line is that physical activity is
great for you. In fact, Time
Magazine (A to Z Health
Guide, 2004) called exercise: "one
of the closest things to a magic bullet that modern health care has to offer."
So, while any type of strenuous physical activity –
lifting weights, Pilates, yoga, swimming, running, hiking, biking, etc. -- will
improve your health and well being, some types are better than others.
Let’s look at why a lot of physiologists and
psychologists view Martial Arts as one of the best types of
exercise you can get.
First, we need to dispel the myth that Martial
Arts classes are just for kids. According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers
Association, among others, more than one-third of Martial Arts students are
adults. The reality is that Martial Arts are great for adults of all ages --
20-somethings as well as more ... “seasoned” individuals. I have personally
known and coached people who did not even start
training until their 50s and 60s; they were able to lose weight, develop
strength, increase stamina, improve joint health and reap all of the same
benefits as someone younger. The key is in adapting the training to each
individual in order to realize maximum results.
Furthermore, the style of Martial Art is less important than the effort and consistency with which you train. Whether you train in taekwondo, karate, jujitsu, aikido or some other form, the benefits remain the same.
Here
are the 5 reasons why martial arts is the best fitness program for adults:
• Total
body workout: Martial Arts are a combination aerobic/strength workout that use
every muscle group in the body. Your stamina, muscle tone, flexibility, balance
and strength will all improve through regular training.
• Stress
relief: Martial Arts allow you
to kick, punch, grapple and scream, which is a great stress release no matter
what your age. Whether practicing with a partner, solo drilling, or hitting
targets or a heavy bag, the physical exertion of Martial Arts demands your
complete focus, and that doesn't leave much room for worrying about other
things. Furthermore, exhausting your body through a demanding physical regimen
often leaves your mind less rigid as well.
• Reach
and maintain your healthy weight: Due to the total-body workout of a Martial
Arts session, tons of calories are burned. However, you’ll also find that your
natural eating signals become better regulated so food cravings will diminish
or disappear and you’ll eat less as a result.
• Learn
self-defense skills: Unlike any other form of exercise, with Martial Arts you
learn potentially life-saving self-defense skills at the same time you are
getting in shape.
• Improved
self confidence: Due to the goal
setting, positive encouragement, respect, and core values that are inherent in nearly
all Martial Arts programs, one of the greatest benefits of training is
increased self confidence. Knowing that you can handle yourself calmly,
rationally, and effectively in a potentially violent situation promotes a quiet
inner strength. You become more at ease in various situations – whether you’re
in danger or simply doing a task that takes you beyond your comfort zone -- and
you’ll discover you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.
Here
is a BONUS Reason why Martial Arts is the BEST Form of Exercise for Adults
Martial Arts train the
mind as well as the body – The
meditation and internal reflection that are intrinsic parts of many types of
Martial Arts training have a huge impact on both mental and physical
well-being. These practices, when done regularly, help to center us, combat
stress, better handle chaotic situations, and have actually been shown to
increase the gray matter in our brain. Check out these articles for more
information (this is but a small sampling of the research and data – there are
literally thousands of links and reports):
So, those are the top five reasons (plus a
pretty nifty bonus) why Martial Arts is the best fitness program for adults.
Martial Arts aren’t for everybody -- but it might be right for you.
Martial Arts aren’t for everybody -- but it might be right for you.
To learn more about the Martial Arts we teach and
determine if it's the right physical activity for you, please call us at (570) 332-4377 or email us at barnesmartialarts@yahoo.com.
We'll be happy to
answer any questions you may have.
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