Exercise: Balance, Flexibility, Strength, Endurance (Health Blog Series, Post #5)

The first part of our multiple approach plan is exercise. There are four basic types of exercise:

~Balance
~Flexibility
~Strength
~Endurance

Each is important and we'll go over some ways to use all four in the next few weeks. (For more info on the four types, you can go here.)

Balance:

Balance is very important, especially for older men and women, who have a greater risk of falling. But even younger people use balance every day, to walk, to run, to stand up from a sitting position - we use balance every day in many, many ways. Once your balance starts to deteriorate, you can fall and cause yourself serious injury, such as a fracture, or head trauma. (For more on this, go here.)

Flexibility:

Just like balance, flexibility is something that we need and use in our day-to-day lives. If you can't, for instance, reach above your head, but you have to get something from that high, you could cause yourself injury. Flexibility also helps keeps your joints in good working order, as well as decreasing the risk that you'll hurt yourself doing other types of exercise. (For more about this, you can look here.)

Strength:

Most everyone has heard of strength training. And you've probably heard of its benefits, too. It increases muscle tone, but that's just one effect it can have. Strength training can decrease arthritis pain, assist with your balance, help you manage your weight, and help you sleep better at night - if for no other reason than it tires you out more than usual. (For more information see this.)

Endurance:

Endurance is a familiar word to most of us. If you lack endurance, you get tired quickly, and most of us don't like that too much. One of the biggest benefits to endurance training is improved cardiovascular health. It also boosts the efficiency of your respiratory system. If you get tired in your daily routine, it may be a lack of endurance, and this type of exercise can help with that. (You can read more about it here.)

No complaining now. You don't need a lot of equipment to pull this stuff off. Balancing on one leg can improve your balance. Sitting down and stretching for five minutes can improve your flexibility. Pushups (which don't require you to buy equipment, by the way) can improve your strength, and jogging can help your endurance. It's by no means impossible to incorporate all four into your daily routine. Plus, there are some exercises that will do double-duty, working at two or more of them at once.

Exercise as a whole:

Altogether, exercise is a way to improve your daily life, increase your physical fitness, help control your weight, and give you more energy. You might even, like me, discover that you love it after a while. If I go too long without working out, I feel tired. And then when I get started, I feel better, have more energy, and I'm reminded of why I take the time to do it. Because it's worth it. If you're lucky, you may even find a type of physical activity (like a game) that works all four types and that you love doing.

Which of the four do you think will be most difficult for you? Why?

See the previous post.