What is your idea of a healthy life style? Eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting ample sleep and exercise are probably the first things that come to mind.
Along with the variety of healthy eating options come a vast array of exercise options as well. Adding strength training to your weekly exercise routine is important to your overall health and wellness.
One of the most important benefits of strength training is protecting your joints from injury. Strong muscles give your joints a bigger range of motion and a bigger range of motion may reduce risk of injury.
Strength training can reinforce strength around major joints such as knees, hips, ankles and shoulders. Strong bones and a boost in your metabolism are added bonuses when you incorporate a strength training regimen into your weekly workout.
When people hear “strength training,” many immediately think that means lifting weights only. But depending on what you desire, there are a variety of strength training options available that offer similar (and sometimes safer!) options to add this important type of training to your workout.
There are body weight exercises like push-ups that you can do anywhere. Circuit training is a combination of four to six exercises such as squats, push-ups, bicycle crunches and jumping jacks, performed a few times in a row with short rest periods in between each round.
Resistance bands are an easy, on-the-go option that combines using your own body weight with the resistance of an object, similar to using weights, and are gentle on the joints. Utilizing Pilates equipment, such as the reformer, tower or Pilates chair, creates resistance and supports the body in space, offering the perfect opportunity to align your body, activate the core and stabilize the spine – all critical elements to maximize strength training workouts.
Given the many types of strength training choices (and these are just a few ideas), it is easy to keep your workouts fresh. Whether you work out in a home gym or participate in group classes, your body will become stronger, healthier and ultimately more balanced.
Whatever your passion may be for strength training, stay committed. Results are only achieved by dedicating time to your weekly workouts; it’s really about consistency.
A strong healthy body takes time to nurture. Stay the course. Stay positive. Stay connected to your body. Like all other forms of exercise, strength training will boost your mood. A better mood means good mental health. Good mental health leads to a better quality of life.
Kristine Ciardello is a Pilates and group fitness instructor at Privé-Swiss Fitness, an award-winning, boutique fitness studio, located at 1587 Boston Post Road, Westbrook, 757 Boston Post Road, Madison and 57 Main Street, Ivoryton; phone: 860-391-8735; website: www.priveswissfitness.com.