Hurdle the Barriers to Regular Exercise
Regular physical activity is arguably an essential aspect of life in the same way that food, water and shelter is. Keeping active prolongs life and enhances the quality, with many benefits to be gained, both physical and mental.
With a gadget-based society in which individuals no longer need to use their body’s to get around, keep a house clean, or earn a living, the requirement for structured exercise has grown. Yet almost seventy per cent of the population is not active enough to gain these benefits.
People from a range of backgrounds tend to outline similar blockages in their attempts to maintain regular physical activity levels. These barriers are extremely real and more than just excuses. However, there are ways of getting over these hurdles and reaping all of the benefits of regular exercise, available to all of us regardless of age, ethnicity, sex, or social status.
“I’m too busy to exercise, I can’t find the time.”
The government recommendation for Physical activity is thirty minutes per day on five days of the week. Hardly such a big commitment is it? If this is impossible and time is limited, you could even break this down to two fifteen-minute, three ten-minute or even six five-minute bouts. You could take stairs instead of lifts, walk to the next bus stop instead of waiting, cycling to work, or leave the car at home for short journeys. Basically, building the activity into your daily routine.
The key here is that the intensity must be moderate – this is when you feel warmer, your heart beats faster and you are breathing more deeply but still able to talk. If you can get enough air into your lungs to sing, it is probably low intensity that you are working at, which is better than nothing but not ideal.
“Exercise is too expensive. I can’t afford a gym membership.”
People in today’s society seem to be able to find the money for things like TV’s, junk food, cigarettes and alcohol. There are worse things you could do then spend your hard earned cash on an exercise related activity. Especially if it will enhance and lengthen your life, rather than shorten it.
If you are not convinced and not yet ready to support your health financially, there are various cheap options if you shop around, and the greatest form of exercise that has existed for centuries is actually free anyway – walking!
“I can’t fit in exercise as I have my kids and parents to look after.”
Regular physical activity is needed by all of us regardless of age. Why not involve your dependents in your exercise regime. You could go to the local pool together, put on some music and dance in the house or just go for a walk around the block.
“I can’t be bothered to exercise.”
There are so many benefits available including protection from heart disease, diabetes, obesity, some cancers, strokes, asthma, arthritis, osteoporosis, depression, anxiety, general colds and flu. Improvements in heart, lung, muscle and bone strength, a stronger immune system, everyday activities like walking up stairs and carrying shopping get easier, better sleep patterns, more energy, improved self-confidence, a mini-break from worries, a better sex life, increased flexibility, clearer skin, a sense of achievement, and more…
With all of this available for just half an hour a day, are you really sure you can’t be bothered to exercise?
“I’m too tired to exercise; I just don’t have the energy to be active.”
Have you ever sat indoors or at your desk at work all day and felt as tired as if you had run a marathon? Mind and body are strongly linked and Energy is like a continuum – you have to give it to get it. The more you move, the more energy your mind gets. If you feel tired, the best thing to do is just start. The energy boost you get will spur you on to do more.
“I don’t like exercise; I’m not the sporty type.”
Have you tried: walking, jogging, running, swimming, cycling, spinning, yoga, pilates, boxercise, aerobics, step aerobics, water aerobics, circuit training, tai chi, dance classes – salsa, tap, ballroom, lindy hop, break-dance and more; body combat, body pump, all of the sports at the summer Olympics, all the sports at the winter Olympics, sports that aren’t at either Olympics? If you have tried them all and not found one that is good for you then I would be very surprised!
If you are not used to exercising starting is probably the most difficult thing. To help your confidence you could try a group exercise class, with the support of other like-minded people and an instructor. Alternatively you could take a friend and help them to get fit with you, seek advice from a health professional, or enlist the help of a personal trainer to help you get the best out of yourself during the sessions.