Starting an Exercise Program:
The Right Time Is Now
By Mary Ellen Copeland, M.S., M.A.
cont.
Choosing the Right Exercise Program for You
When setting up an exercise program that is right for you, focus your
attention on what you enjoy. If you are the kind of person who enjoys team
support, you may want to sign up with the local softball league for some of
your exercise. If solitary exercise feels best to you, think of things you can
do by yourself. You may enjoy hiking but not swimming. A brisk ride on a
bicycle may be perfect for you. Is it swimming, hiking, dancing, working out on
exercise machines while watching videos, skating, outdoor chores like raking
the lawn or cutting wood, walking, yoga, etc., etc., etc.? Any kind of exercise
is acceptable!
You can do the same kind of exercise every day or vary it according to the
weather, what you feel like and the things you need to get done. You may spend
part of your exercise time doing one kind of exercise and part of the time
doing another. You might work in the garden and then go for a walk. This makes
exercise more interesting for some of us.
Health clubs are wonderful for people who enjoy exercising with others in an
atmosphere that is pleasant and sociable. Joining a health club is a wonderful
– but not a necessary – treat, should you be able to afford it. Don't
put off exercise until you have enough money to join a health club. Or until
you can purchase expensive exercise clothing or equipment. Most exercise
doesn't take special clothing or equipment – just a lot of willpower.
It may help you to decide what kind of exercise you are going to do if you
make a list of exercise options and post it in a convenient place. Then you can
look at the list each day and decide how you are going to get your exercise
that day. If it is raining, you may want to dance to your favorite CD rather
than take your usual walk. If the softball team doesn't have a game, you may
want to catch up on outdoor chores.
Walking Is a Good Choice for Many
Walking deserves special focus because it is often the easiest, most
convenient and best exercise for many people. It works well because:
- No special equipment is necessary, except for a good pair of walking shoes
(which you should have anyway).
- It doesn't cost anything.
- It is non-competitive, so old feelings of not being as good as others don't
come up.
- You can walk anytime, anywhere that is safe. You may walk on the track at
the local school after school hours. I find that walking on one of the rural
walking trails or abandoned roads in our area has the added benefit of
communion with nature.
- You can walk in whatever you happen to be wearing.
- You don't have to change your clothes or take a shower after walking.
- It is very unlikely that you will incur the type of overuse injuries that
occur with other types of exercise.
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