Is physical exercise a necessary part of our lives? Yes, it
definitely is. Without regular physical exercise, our bodies degenerate
faster and our lifespans are shorter as well. It is a well known fact
that regular physical exercise not only strengthens our muscles,
tendons, ligaments, bones and internal organs, it also makes us more
immune to various kinds of diseases. Apart from these benefits, it also
makes us look leaner and younger and gives us a sense of well-being,
happiness and confidence.
During the Stone Age, whenever our ancestors needed food they had to hunt for it and this hunting involved a lot of running and jumping (after wild game), climbing (to pluck fruits) and even swimming (to catch fish). But the physical exertion did not just end there. After they had gathered their food, they had to carry or drag them back to their caves. All these involved a lot of hard manual labour and we can rightly say that our Stone Age ancestors certainly "exercised" a lot.
With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, machines replaced more and more of manual labour until today, that is the Information Age, almost everything seems to be mechanized or automated. As a result, it is now necessary for us, whether we are male or female, young or old, to make regular physical exercise a part of our lifestyle.
The purpose of regular physical exercise is to make us become more physically fit so that we can live not only longer but better and more useful lives. The physical exercises that we participate in should include these essential components in order for us to be truly fit:
What is Stamina and endurance training? Again, whenever we talk about stamina and endurance training, running and jumping come into our minds. But stamina and endurance training can also mean training with barbells, dumbells, machines or our own bodyweight as the resistance in a circuit-style fashion.
What is Flexibility training? Any kind of stretching exercise is considered as flexibility training. The stretching exercises that martial artists and athletes perform as warm-up before or after their actual training are flexibility exercises. Flexibility training is the most neglected component of many exercise regimen and sport. This training is a must-have ingredient for any exercise programme or sport as it not only helps prevent injuries but also transforms one into a better athlete.
During the Stone Age, whenever our ancestors needed food they had to hunt for it and this hunting involved a lot of running and jumping (after wild game), climbing (to pluck fruits) and even swimming (to catch fish). But the physical exertion did not just end there. After they had gathered their food, they had to carry or drag them back to their caves. All these involved a lot of hard manual labour and we can rightly say that our Stone Age ancestors certainly "exercised" a lot.
With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, machines replaced more and more of manual labour until today, that is the Information Age, almost everything seems to be mechanized or automated. As a result, it is now necessary for us, whether we are male or female, young or old, to make regular physical exercise a part of our lifestyle.
The purpose of regular physical exercise is to make us become more physically fit so that we can live not only longer but better and more useful lives. The physical exercises that we participate in should include these essential components in order for us to be truly fit:
- Strength training
- Stamina and endurance training
- Flexibility training
What is Stamina and endurance training? Again, whenever we talk about stamina and endurance training, running and jumping come into our minds. But stamina and endurance training can also mean training with barbells, dumbells, machines or our own bodyweight as the resistance in a circuit-style fashion.
What is Flexibility training? Any kind of stretching exercise is considered as flexibility training. The stretching exercises that martial artists and athletes perform as warm-up before or after their actual training are flexibility exercises. Flexibility training is the most neglected component of many exercise regimen and sport. This training is a must-have ingredient for any exercise programme or sport as it not only helps prevent injuries but also transforms one into a better athlete.
