Monday, December 22, 2008

The Anti Aging Exercise Regimen

By Marianna Pells

There's no such thing as an anti aging exercise because there is not just one particular training activity that can fight aging. Rather, getting yourself into any regular exercise plan can help you develop good health, maintain a youthful lifestyle and age gracefully.

You won't be able to achieve anything if you're not going to get off the couch. Aging means not being able to do the things you like, whenever you want to. Incorporating strength, aerobic and flexibility training in your exercise program could just be your answer.

Strength Training

Including strength training in your anti aging exercise regimen has been known to reverse the aging process. When you are strength training, you improve bone density and muscle mass. By not exercising enough, the body loses muscle tone, and when this happens your muscles become unable to effectively support your skeletal frame. This means developing age-related problems like bad posture and chronic back pain.

What's good about doing regular strength workouts is that your muscles become toned, skin tighter, arthritic conditions minimized and metabolic rate increase. Once your body has been conditioned to strength training, it is still able to burn fat even after you've finished working out. You can do a strength workout by weight training, resistance training (where you oppose forces), and isometric training (where you strengthen muscles without movement). The recommended amount of time to strength-train is 2-3 days per week.

Isometric training is one of the more preferred types of strength training because it is less straining especially for those who are just starting to get back on a fitness plan. Isometric training usually involves short repetitions of muscle flexing.

Aerobic Workout

Aerobic training can be some form of an anti aging exercise too. The best thing about cardiovascular or aerobic training is that it is suitable for any age group. This type of training includes running, brisk-walking and other workouts that are moderate in intensity.

Aerobic training is also known as cardiovascular training because it aids in the healthy circulation of blood in the body. Healthy circulation helps bring sufficient amounts of oxygen to different parts of the body. It is responsible for your coordinating skills, responsive mechanisms and mental clarity. When blood circulation is weak, you may become easily faint, develop migraines and acquire severe problems like heart disease and dementia.

To have superior endurance, de-stressing capabilities and blood health, start getting into any regular aerobic activity. At least 20 minutes of aerobic training everyday is suggested.

Flexibility Training

Whether you're already doing cardiovascular or strength training, there's no excuse for not incorporating flexibility exercises in your regimen. Stretching and flexing is important before and after every workout session because it preconditions your body so you are less prone to joint, bone and muscular injuries.

Benefits of flexibility training include alleviation of joint problems that cause discomfort and wider range of bodily movement. Performing a flexibility exercise for 30 seconds per day can already increase range of movement and improve overall flexibility.

Incorporating strength, aerobic and flexibility training into your anti aging exercise regimen can give you the benefit of having more speed, power, balance and agility to defy aging. - 15438

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