adminSiba Guzha
HELLO gentle readers, since health awareness is becoming rampant, it is now common to see people running/ jogging early mornings or later during the day, when it is cooler. The aim being to get fit and to control weight. Even though jogging or running is good for fitness and weight control, it may also cause some damage to your body. More people now are joining gyms not just because they want the indoor environment, but because of the variety of classes on offer, as well as the introduction of a variety of machines which, when used under the supervision of qualified trainers will ensure that you get the results that you want.
I would like to highlight that running/ jogging is a weight bearing exercise that stresses the bones of the lower body in a positive way. Thus, as a weight bearing exercise, it causes the bones to retain minerals and thus supports the rebuilding/ maintenance of strong bones. Running and jogging also effectively stresses the cardiovascular and muscular systems, this improves endurance fitness and ultimately results in a large calorie burn which favours body fat reduction. Health fanatics have studied the benefits as well as the disadvantages of running/ jogging alone, thus the engineering of various machinery such as the vibrating machines, spin bikes, recumbent bike, tread mill, plank machine, rower machine, etc, which we see at Body focus gym. The various machinery help us to focus on whole body workout or target on specific muscles in order for people to ensure whole body workouts. Having a variety of classes such as yoga, pilates, spin, zumba, step or pump, allows people to avoid high levels of concentration on specific ligaments, which may ultimately result in injuries or long term strains to muscles. Jogging however needs to be combined or alternated with other exercises rather than relying entirely on it alone as a form of exercise.
Jogging or running, as I said before, is a weight bearing exercise, as such, too much of it can cause overuse, injuries to joints, including ankle, knee, hip and lumbar vertebrae of the lower back.
Jogging also stresses the front region of the lower leg, commonly causing pain and connective tissue irritation that is referred to as skin-splints.
Jogging alone however may not be the best initial exercise choice for people who are considerably over-weight, unfit or who have a naturally stocky (short, heavy set, and muscular) physique.
For those who want to start on a running program, I would advise you to consult your doctor, buy good running shoes and start slow, in order to ensure a safe start. Begin with integrating short segments of running into a walking program then, over time, lengthen the running segments and shorten your walking segments. Just be sure to be gentle on yourself.
Joining the gym where a variety of classes are on offer, however, allows you to focus on total body fitness and weight control while toning your whole body at the same time.
Don’t wait for the doctor to tell you to join the gym. Come on, take initiative on your own bodies, it’s time we focus on being healthy and staying healthy.
Siba Guzha, fitness trainer at Body Focus Gym executive, Meikles First floor. Mutare. Contacts: 0772 789 110/ email [email protected].
Online Reporter