Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - North Mississippi - (Page 25)

YA our erobic exercise may just be the Paul McCartney (or insert your favorite Beatle here) of ﬁtness. Sure, he’s had some impressive solo efforts, but the band performing together was pure musical genius. Am I right? Aerobic activity tends to steal the ﬁtness spotlight in the same way, but your body isn’t getting a well-rounded routine without the rest of the ﬁtness ensemble: strength training and ﬂexibility. “A lack of regular exercise can take years off your life, but having a well-rounded ﬁtness routine can help you be able to do what you want, when you want to do it,” says Pete McCall, an exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise (ACE). In this three-member band, aerobic exercise keeps your heart in shape and manages most of the calorie-burning; strength training does the Find BY ALLISON THOMAS heavy lifting to build strong bones and muscle and increase your stamina; and ﬂexibility enables your day-to-day activities while helping to prevent injury. But there are other exercise beneﬁts, such as reducing your risk of disease, increasing your energy, reducing stress and simply improving the way you feel when you get out of bed each day. Then there’s the boost it gives your brain. “Anytime you exercise you’re increasing blood ﬂow to and oxygenation of the brain, which always has positive cognitive beneﬁts like increased alertness, higher mental function and better focus,” says Susan Biali, M.D., author of Live a Life You Love: 7 Steps to a Healthier, Happier, More Passionate You. “And research has shown that moderate aerobic exercise in the morning can help boost your mood throughout the rest of the day.” So, whether you’re an amateur ﬁtness act that needs help getting off the ground, a repeat performer who’s ready to hit the road, or an exercise enthusiast who aspires to attain rockstar status, here are a few tips for a harmonious ﬁtness routine. Groove The importance of a balanced workout routine— and how to build one no matter what your ﬁtness level Vim & Vigor · FAL L 2011 25

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - North Mississippi

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - North Mississippi
Contents
Opening Thoughts
Stay Connected
We’re Here for You
How Tweet It Is
Healthy Hues
The New Survivors
First (Aid) Things First
Find Your Groove
A Healthy Tune
Stay in Circulation
‘X’ Marks the Spot
Pregnancy Predictors
Play It Safe
Good to Know
Catch the Spirit

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - North Mississippi