Definition of Aerobics:

Think of aerobic activity as being long in duration yet low in intensity. Aerobic activities include: walking, biking, jogging, swimming, aerobic classes and

cross-country skiing. Anaerobic activity is short in duration and high in intensity. Anaerobic activities include: racquetball, downhill skiing, weight lifting, sprinting, softball, soccer and football.

Aerobic means with air or oxygen. You should be able to carry on a short conversation while doing aerobic exercise.

Cardiovascular Benefits

Aerobic exercise conditions the heart and lungs by increasing the oxygen available to the body and by enabling the heart to use oxygen more efficiently. Exercise alone cannot prevent or cure heart disease. It is only one factor in a total program of risk reduction; examples of other risk factors are high blood pressure, cigarette smoking and high cholesterol level. Moving your body daily is the first step towards Cardiovascular health!

Additional Benefits of Aerobic Exercise

In addition to cardiovascular benefits, other benefits of aerobic exercise include:

• Control of body fat.

 (Aerobic exercise in conjunction with strength training and a proper diet reduces body fat.)

• Increased resistance to fatigue and extra energy.
• Toned muscles and increased lean body mass.
• Decreased tension and aid in sleeping.
• Increased general stamina.
• Psychological benefits - exercise improves mood, reduces depression and anxiety.

     Sounds like a WIN / WIN for all of us -  Let's get started with only 20 minutes a day!!!!