Bodypower Fitness Centre

5 Ways to Fit Exercise Into a Super-Tight Schedule

You're busy. You're frazzled. You need a stress-reducing shape-up more than ever - and here's how to do just that!

Many of us are already know about the benefit of exercise. It can reduce the risk of dying from heart disease or developing high blood pressure (hypertension), colon cancer or diabetes. Other benefits are reducing feelings of depression and anxiety; controlling weight; building and maintaining healthy bones, muscles and joints; improving the quality of life among older adults and promoting psychological wellbeing.

These are 5 suggestions to make exercise a part of your day:

1) Walk, walk, walk. Walk to anywhere you think you are able to - nearby coffee shop, lunch spot or even to office!

2) Stair climbing. Next time, climb the stairs to your office or at the shopping mall, which can raise your heart rate and strengthen the legs!

3) Play with your kids. Kids benefit from physical activity as much as adult - like riding bikes to the playground, play tag, or swing on the jungle gym - and it's also a great way to spend quality time together.

4) Make a morning routine by doing 10-minute stretching. After a morning shower, do gentle stretches for your neck, back, arms and legs. This can be a wonderfully refreshing way to start your day, other than improves your range of motion and reduces the risk of injury.

5) Schedule your workout and write them down. The best intentions to exercise are often sidetracked if you don't set a specific time and place. Make a note on a calendar or in a day planner, like "Step class at 7 p.m." - you'll see this message every time you look up another appointment, and you'll feel guilty if you feel like skipping that shape-up when class time rolls around.

(extracted from Diet & Exercise Spring 2006)