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| Fitness |
 Get Energized With
Active LivingBy Theresa Cochran, PFT, CFC, AFLCA Active living is the new catch phrase of the 21st century. It can be defined as an approach to life that encourages and incorporates physical activity into daily lifestyle. It is a concept that people of all age, race, and gender should include in their daily lives. You can find many ways to be active and healthy at home, school, work and during family or leisure time. Sometimes it just takes a little creativity. Being active does not just mean going to the gym or local sports hall and spending an hour doing aerobics or resistance training. It means including physical activity in your life for a minimum of 30 minutes per day. This can even be done in 10-minute spurts, 3 times per day. Active living can involve many different activities and should be made up of things that you enjoy doing in order to make them a consistent part of your life. If you do not enjoy doing an activity, what are the chances that you will continue to take part in it? According to Health Canada, 63% of Canadians are not active enough to achieve health benefits they need from physical activity. Consequently, people do not realize what types of activities constitute active living. Activities that could be easily added to your life include: • walking - this could entail as little as walking during lunch hours, after dinner, parking a few block away from the office or even using the stairs instead of the elevator; • gardening, yard or house cleaning, shoveling show; • indoor and outdoor activities with the kids; • fitness classes or home exercise such as aerobics and yoga; • bicycling, rollerblading, jogging, running or hiking; • organized community sports, golf, bowling, social dancing; • racquetball, squash, tennis or badminton; • cross country/downhill skiing, sledding or ice skating. There are many benefits and improvements that can be made in your life once you incorporate a few activities into your daily routine. Some of these include: • increased energy and physiological well being; • maintenance or reduction of body weight; • increased muscular strength and endurance; •reduction in stress, anxiety, mild or moderate depression; •increased self-esteem and confidence; • reduction of back pain; • reduced blood pressure and lower risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes and colon cancer, etc. According to Health Canada, people who are not active are 40-43% more likely to die at a younger age from some of the health problems listed above. A very common excuse is that we just do not have the time, motivation and/or energy to include physical activity into our daily routines. Active living involves having a great awareness of the value of physical activity and finding creative ways to make it a priority in your life. As you increase your level of activity you will immediately notice positive changes in your physical and mental well being. The two most prominent changes are increased energy and motivation. Time is the only other element that needs to be persistently addressed. Once you make physical activity a priority in your life you will notice that you will be able to slot it in at various times during your day. For instance, if you eat your lunch while you are working at your desk and use your lunch break to do an enjoyable physical activity, you will save time in your day and still get your 30-60 minutes of physical activity. Daily active living is a concept everyone should be including in his/her life. Find activities that you enjoy and pursue them with determination and enthusiasm. It is important to remember to start slowly and gradually build your time and level of intensity. Be sure to set challenging yet realistic goals that you can achieve and maintain. This will help to increase your motivation and determination. Try to be active at least 30 minutes seven days per week and remember this can be done in smaller increments throughout your day. Physical activity is essential to good health and well being so get energized by making it a healthy habit in your life. Theresa Cochran, PFT, CFC, AFLCA, is the Active Living Programmer at Southland Leisure Centre. She is a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer, Consultant & a land & aquatic fitness Instructor. To inquire about the programs offered at Southland Leisure Centre, contact Theresa at 403.251.8117 or email: tcochran@gov.calgary.ab.ca |