My Health

Getting in shape: gradual and systematic

by Tonkins Anderson

June/July 2005

In my fitness feature last month I stressed the importance of maintaining a regular fitness regimen in order to reap the benefits of a healthy body, mind, and spirit. Vigorous, sweaty exercise triggers the release of serotonin, adrenaline, and endorphins in the brain and has been shown to improve one’s mood.

Now that we’ve initiated positive thoughts, let’s initiate the action!
When getting started, try not to allow confusion over all the various training methods to set in: the results can paralyse you with fear and indecision, preventing you from ever getting started. Most individuals, particularly beginners, need someone to tell them exactly what to do. For a beginner who has no concept of programme design and no sense of how their own body responds to exercise, think about joining an all-purpose fitness centre with consultation services, a large variety of classes, and equipment to explore your exercise options.

Consideration of this selection engages the essentials for education, encouragement, enthusiasm, and equilibrium, which are important elements in motivating you towards healthy changes in lifestyle. Remember, it’s not enough to just join a centre – you must put in the work in order to reap the health benefits. Once you’ve assumed the responsibility for getting started, undertake the responsibility and commitment for gaining results in your training. This involves individualising of one’s own nutrition and training. Customisation is based upon your goals, experience, body type and metabolism.

This is a great starting point. In the beginning your routine doesn’t have to be perfect. Through gradual gains of knowledge, self-realisation of your own strengths and weaknesses, and of course trial and error, your newly obtained awareness will allow you to decide whether you need to make changes in your training or nutrition based on the results.

Simply stated, once you develop the innate bodily wisdom and sensory acuity to realise how your body responds to various training and nutritional protocols, then you set yourself free from rigid and inflexible regimens and learn to adjust according to your results.

I often take into consideration the extreme personal considerations of the work; after all we’re in the “body bizness” and we’re obliged to encourage a clients to think of their body as their “temple”.

With this in mind, it would only be appropriate to endorse the spiritual essentials of fitness. Tai chi and yoga incorporate deep breathing techniques that build balance, coordination and strength, and are energising and wonderfully de-stressing as well.

My final recommendation: the only place you can discover all of these essentials under one roof – World Class Romania. Where else?
Much luck on your journey and have a fantastic summer. Maybe see you at the beach sometime?

Tonkins Anderson
ACSM Certified Fitness Instructor