Exercise to Build a Better You

by Selina Johnson, Wylam Branch Library 

We had a wonderful exercise session at Wylam Library on this past Wednesday. Workout Wednesday with Ms. Myra was not the typical high impact aerobics thrashing and pounding of your joints; instead, low impact chair exercises were introduced. Ms. Myra made the session appealing with calming music, simple instructions, and practical information about exercising and health. Working out has not been a priority for me as of late and I had never thought much about this type of exercise.

How much of a workout can you get from sitting in a chair, right? Well, after participating in this chair exercise session I came to respect it as a significant way to gain health benefits. I noticed an increase in my heart rate at about 10 minutes into the session. Also, many of the exercises worked the core muscles. Who doesn’t think that they need to trim down their midsection? Ms. Myra suggested adding barbells if you want to intensify the workout. So, if you are tied to a desk for an extended amount of time at work, you can get an effective workout from a chair.

Ms. Myra teaches participants at the Wylam Branch Library chair yoga to keep them active
and healthy

Exercise is one of the most important things you can do in order to build a better you for your health, but developing the discipline to maintain an exercise routine is never easy. The American Heart Association recommends that you get 30 minutes of physical activity each day which can be broken down into three 10 minute increments. Think about it. Taking the time to do 10 minutes of chair exercise, 10 minutes of climbing a set of stairs, and 10 minutes of walking at a brisk pace some time during the day can make a difference in heart health and well-being. It can be challenging to get exercise into your daily schedule but the key is to find things that are a good fit for you and match your abilities.

Participating in the chair exercise class has motivated me to implement some type of exercise into my day. Starting with small chunks of exercise will hopefully bring about the confidence needed to develop a regular workout routine. I can’t say that I always enjoy working out while in the moment, but after a workout I am focused, de-stressed, and energized. Here is to making your health a priority and to building a better you.

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