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| Getting my "sweat" on in a kick-boxing class |
God created you as a whole person and so you need to take care of your whole self, not just the individual parts. There is a direct relationship between physical and spiritual health.
A healthy body will give you the energy and enthusiasm to carry out the purposes that God has for your life. Practicing healthy living is a way to glorify God. God created your body to be built for action therefore activity is needed to keep you fit. His law in nature is to exercise, eat right, and serve God. You need to take care of yourself and obey the law of nature.
Of course we divas prefer to say that we "glisten" as opposed to sweating; however glistening doesn't have the health and emotional benefits associated with working up a good old fashioned sweat. At its most basic level, the function of perspiration is to cool the body. With each person having 2-4 million sweat glands, the amount a person perspires depends on several factors including: body chemistry, physical activity, fitness level, sex (women have more sweat glands, but men tend to perspire more), and many other factors. Most commonly, perspiration is attributed to physical activity; however, anxiety, stress, medication, high temperatures and other factors may cause the body to initiate the perspiration process, in an attempt to cool the body.
Physical Benefits
When perspiration begins, sweat (comprised of water, minerals, and some waste) begins to move towards the pores of the skin. With this movement of fluids, blood is also moved closer to the surface of the skin, which is why a person may appear to have rosy cheeks or slightly reddened skin when exercising. By moving the blood away from the core and closer to the surface of the skin, the blood is able to be cooled and then recirculated throughout the body to cool the body. To promote this circulation, the heart rate must increase to pump the blood faster. This extra exertion results in burned calories, though the amount of calories burned varies depending upon the cause and severity of the perspiration.
In a deep perspiration, usually resulting from an intense workout the perspiration helps to cleanse the body. Dead cells are loosened by the opened pores and the perspiration released from the pores. As the dead cells are exfoliated through bathing, the new cells are exposed to reveal fresher, healthier looking skin. In the contents of the deep perspiration, it is likely there will be higher contents of ammonia, nickel, urea, zinc, and other minerals, chemicals, and heavy metals which can act as toxins to the body. After these toxins are released from the body, a cool shower washes them away and closes the pores of the skin to help prevent toxins from re-entering the body.
Set to full screen
Make some floor space and turn up the volume!
Regular physical activity may reduce depression and
anxiety and improve mood. Exercising may even be linked with enhancing
creativity and imagination. The United States Surgeon General reports
that exercise ‘reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and fosters
improvements in mood and feelings of well-being.'
Brief periods of intense training or moderate aerobic
workouts can raise the levels of chemicals such as endorphins,
adrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine in the brain. These chemicals
produce the feelings of pleasure many people feel after working out.
Research has shown that exercise may help improve the mood of people who
are clinically depressed. Many people who are depressed have low levels
of serotonin and exercise can help boost these levels.
Studies have also shown that moderate exercise such
as brisk walking may help reduce the number of sleep disturbances in
people who suffer from them. Exercise activities that focus on
breathing, relaxation and meditation may be
especially helpful for combating stress, anxiety, and sleeplessness.
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Why Christian Women Should Exercise? by Kimberley. J. Payne
Fit for Faith Blog Repost
God created you as a whole person and so you need to take care of your whole self, not just the individual parts. There is a direct relationship between physical and spiritual health.
A healthy body will give you the energy and enthusiasm to carry out the purposes that God has for your life. Practicing healthy living is a way to glorify God. God created your body to be built for action therefore activity is needed to keep you fit. His law in nature is to exercise, eat right, and serve God. You need to take care of yourself and obey the law of nature.
There are two types of exercise: cardiovascular and strength training.
Cardiovascular activity (aerobic exercise) helps you to increase energy and keep moving. It is good for your heart, lungs and circulatory system. Regular cardiovascular exercise helps you burn calories faster, even when you are sitting still. It does this by raising your metabolism (the rate you burn calories) up to 15 hours after exercising.
Strength training (weight lifting) helps keep your muscles strong, reduces bone loss and improves balance and posture. It is not only for men or for younger people. Women of any age can also benefit, particularly those most likely to suffer from osteoporosis. Strength training helps you to better deal with everyday tasks.
Discover the many benefits to exercise including feelings of accomplishment and well being, increased energy, reduced stress and improved sleep patterns. You need to include both cardiovascular activity as well as strength training into your exercise program.
Assignment:
- If you do little to no exercising, select a mild to moderate physical activity and do it for 10 - 30 minutes up to 3 times this week.
- If you currently exercise moderately, add 10 to 30 minutes to your workout regimen
- If you are an avid fitness buff, literally BRING a friend along with you for a workout. Use a buddy pass at the gym, take them mall walking or bring them with you to the track, but if care about your couch potato friend, get her off her duff and work up a sweat together.
12 exercise strategies that work!
1. Take it slow and steady Remember that fitness is not a “quick fix.” This is a lifestyle change and you may experience setbacks and plateaus.
2. Schedule exercise in Take an honest look at how you spend your days. Schedule exercise in your daily planner just as you would with a business meeting or a doctor's appointment.
3. Track your progress Keep a chart of your progress and small improvements will become noticeable.
4. Follow the 10-minute rule Decide to do only 10 minutes of exercise and then you can stop if you want. Generally, once you have started exercising you will not want to stop.
5. Team up with a friend A partner can make workouts more fun and push you to try harder. You will be more likely to stick to your plan if you have a partner. Join a walking club, a sports team or an aerobics class.
6. Do something else at the same time You can read or listen to books on tape while riding a stationary bike. You can also watch TV, listen to music, talk to God or think about a Scripture reading.
7. Create space
Create an area to call your own and make exercise so accessible that you have no excuse. Buy some low-priced equipment: an exercise bike, a resistance band, a set of dumbells, a stretching mat, a jump rope and an exercise video.
8. Look the part Put on workout clothes – do not just change into running shoes. If you look the part, you will feel the part.
9. Time it right Remember, if you do not have the time for a full workout each day, break down your workouts into three or four smaller chunks of 10 minutes each.
10. Vary your routine You may be less likely to get bored or injured if you change your routine. Walk one day and bicycle the next.
11. Have fun Take the “work” out of workouts. Try something new and experiment until you find one that you like doing. The best fitness plan is one that you can easily include in your busy schedule and not just another thing to add to your “to-do” list.
12. Celebrate goals reached Every time you reach a goal, celebrate. Reward ideas may include making a long-distance phone call, treating yourself to a bubble bath, getting a pedicure, buying an extravagant bouquet, or subscribing to a magazine.
Learn to include simple activities into your daily routine. Park your vehicle over a block away from work. Once at work, favour the stairs over the elevator. Pull out your bicycle and ride to pick up your mail. Roller-blade around the neighbourhood with the family dog. Hike through the fields and pick wild flowers to make floral arrangements for gifts.
If your schedule is full of everyone else’s extra-curricular activities, incorporate personal fitness during these times. For example, kick the ball around the field at your child’s soccer tournament. Or toss a ball on the sidelines at your spouse’s baseball game. You may want to help out a worthy cause by joining a walk-a-thon. A mother-daughter walk is an example of one way to combine fitness with family bonding.
You need to set aside time everyday to exercise, to pray and to bask in God’s love. Having a consistent time will help establish a routine. This may mean rising a little earlier in the morning while the rest of the family sleeps. Or it may mean closing your office door and turning off the phones at lunch. It could mean taking time between when the children return from school and dinner. Or it may mean spending time in the evening instead of watching television. It does not matter when, as long as you find a time to do it consistently.
Walking is one of the most flexible and relaxing activities. You do not need any special equipment or skills – just a good pair of shoes and sensible clothing. You can do it anywhere and anytime with a friend or by yourself. Walking offers less risk of injury, with many of the benefits of more strenuous activities.
Before you begin, it is important to check your physical condition. You should receive your doctor’s approval before beginning an exercise program.
May God bless your journey towards improved spiritual and physical health.(Excerpt taken from “Fit for Faith – 7 weeks to improved spiritual & physical health” by Kimberley J. Payne)
For additional information about fitness visit Shelita Williams' website.
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