Yoga and walking are two such activities, and several studies have addressed how these exercises can improve fitness while avoiding stress or strain.
If you're getting on in years and want to improve your health and fitness as a way to stay mobile, what are you supposed to do? What are some effective ways to get daily exercise without risking injury or an overtaxed heart?
Yoga and walking are two such activities, and several studies have addressed how these exercises can improve fitness while avoiding stress or strain.
One of the most prominent articles on the subject appeared in a 2007 issue of the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The authors, a trio of New York-based physical health experts, found that neither yoga nor walking puts undue strain on the heart.
In fact, the team found that a yoga session burned about as many calories as walking on a treadmill at roughly two miles per hour.
Another study, this one published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, determined that women who get regular exercise tend to maintain a better level of cognition than their sedentary peers.
Researchers found that doing yoga, swimming, biking, running or even walking to improve health entailed a 20 percent reduction in the risk of cognitive decline.
Think that's all that yoga and walking are good for? Think again. Yet another study has indicated that these two activities appear to improve the self-esteem levels of menopausal women.
Appearing in the American Journal of Health Promotion, the article described an experiment in which scientists asked menopausal ladies to start engaging in regular strolls or yoga classes.
Compared to the participants who did neither activity, those who walked or engaged in the holistic health regimen tended to report having a better self-image and an improved sense of their physical attractiveness.
No matter what your age, gender, background or health status, there's a yoga class somewhere that is right for you. Take a walk to your local community center and check out what is available!
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Tags: improve health, improve health and fitness, walking to improve health
