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Sunday, February 26, 2006
Perez: Getting into exercise
By Joy G. Perez
Sensitivity
CHOOSE an exercise you enjoy. There are many to choose from such as brisk walking, jogging, aerobic dancing or step aerobics, cycling, swimming, badminton, lawn tennis, table tennis, football, basketball, and hiking.
I prefer hiking. It is convenient. But, most of all, deep breathing seems to be the best. Do it early in the morning for at least five minutes when you get up and after having said a prayer. You will really feel good.
Follow it with some stretching for another five minutes. Then, do some slow motion exercise for at least seven minutes depending on what you like -- stretching arms, legs, and move your neck, hands, feet, and do some forward and backward steps. Concentrate on doing this. While doing this type of exercise, go with the motion of the rhythm of your breathing. Now, you sweat.
Try this: put your two hands at the nape-touching and supporting the back of your neck-then slowly move your neck while you move your arms and elbows sideways. Preferably do it while standing. It does not have to be strenuous. Be sure to do it on your own schedule.
Those who often exercise would tell you that doing regular exercise not only keeps your weight down, it also relieves stress and makes you look good and feel good. Pout life into it, as the saying goes. Make an effort to put or "squeeze" some exercise time into your busy schedule. Keep it as a challenge: keeping trim and fit.
I read somewhere and it sticks to my mind that the only person who can make you trim and fit is yourself. With the right motivation, healthy eating habits and regular exercise, you achieve your goal of a healthy weight and be able to maintain it for the rest of your life. Drink lots and lots of water. Try more than eight glasses of water a day.
Take note: having enough sleep is a great partner in doing exercise, said Ana Unson-Price, a columnist on fitness with Manila Bulletin.
She also noted that doing exercise is excellent for the face. She wrote, "If you do cardiovascular exercise, like brisk walking, biking, hiking, dancing -- the skin benefits because of the added circulation of blood and oxygen, the pores opening and releasing dirt and toxins via perspiration, your eyes are brighter, your posture is better, what more can you ask for to keep your body, skin, and entire look youthful?"
Exercise is a way to handly stress. Price said stress is not just the number one killer on the planet, it is also the number one cause of aging.
She further said, "Stress makes every illness you already have worse. It makes you have worry lines no matter how beautifully cared for your skin is. It makes you want to eat more, not less, and the tendency is to go straight for the comfort food you are trying to stay away from!"
To reduce stress, she recommended meditation and visualization techniques learned from classes, books, or specifically yoga classes.
This is what she said: "Practice to breathe deeply, from your diaphragm, bringing in more oxygen with each and every breath you take all day long. Breathing properly is one of the very best ways for your body to learn to react well in stressful situation. Deflecting stress is good, but learning how to deal with the day-to-day stresses is what will set your mindset younger, more relaxed."
Enjoy getting into exercise.
(February 26, 2006 issue)
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