Comments on: Benefit of Exercise http://www.groovybabe.co.uk/2007/08/21/benefit-of-exercise/ Taking one day at a time... Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:53:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Rosabel http://www.groovybabe.co.uk/2007/08/21/benefit-of-exercise/#comment-394 Rosabel Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:20:09 +0000 http://www.groovybabe.co.uk/2007/08/21/benefit-of-exercise/#comment-394 Hallelujah! I HATED sports at school because it was just measuring this and that: how fast can you run, how long can you jump, how well can you do a cartwheel. Nothing was done without a stop watch or some kind of a one-team-against-another set up. The weirdest thing was, at least at our school, no one ever taught us HOW to do these sports. No advice on running techniques or what kind of warm up is good, no advice on how to actually play soccer so that it would have some logic in it (we were just given a ball and told "ok play"). So the people who were already good at the sports, really ruled, and the kids who had no idea of how to play these things were left out (me included). I love running now that I have gotten good advice on how to actually do it! I don't feel embarrased anymore that I have to walk 15 minutes before I can start running--that's just how long it takes me to get my muscles going, and after that I can run non-stop maybe a kilometer or two (I'm still not very advanced, but I'm getting there...). If someone had told me this at school instead of just saying "Run as fast as you can, I'm taking the time!", I probably would have started sports earlier. Also, I found swing dancing to be my favorite sport. It's ridiculously fun, and I get completely soaked doing it. It's probably the only exercise where I have not even noticed that I have gotten exercise! It should be like that at schools: that kids could try out various activities, with the help of good advice on how to do the activities right, and then choose what they prefer. And you're right. The example comes from the family. We can't just tell our kid Ok go and do sports--we have to give examples. Sometimes it's of course hard due to time constraints. But still... And like you said, it starts with something small. I always go to the store with a backpack--it's easier to bring back on a bike. I will try that in the US where everyone drives to the nearest store, it seems. Even that small effort, walking to the nearest store and lugging your groceries on your back, gives more boost to do something more the next day. :) We should get some kind of a movement going, hehe. I'm 100% behind you on all this! Hallelujah! I HATED sports at school because it was just measuring this and that: how fast can you run, how long can you jump, how well can you do a cartwheel. Nothing was done without a stop watch or some kind of a one-team-against-another set up. The weirdest thing was, at least at our school, no one ever taught us HOW to do these sports. No advice on running techniques or what kind of warm up is good, no advice on how to actually play soccer so that it would have some logic in it (we were just given a ball and told “ok play”). So the people who were already good at the sports, really ruled, and the kids who had no idea of how to play these things were left out (me included).

I love running now that I have gotten good advice on how to actually do it! I don’t feel embarrased anymore that I have to walk 15 minutes before I can start running–that’s just how long it takes me to get my muscles going, and after that I can run non-stop maybe a kilometer or two (I’m still not very advanced, but I’m getting there…). If someone had told me this at school instead of just saying “Run as fast as you can, I’m taking the time!”, I probably would have started sports earlier.

Also, I found swing dancing to be my favorite sport. It’s ridiculously fun, and I get completely soaked doing it. It’s probably the only exercise where I have not even noticed that I have gotten exercise! It should be like that at schools: that kids could try out various activities, with the help of good advice on how to do the activities right, and then choose what they prefer.

And you’re right. The example comes from the family. We can’t just tell our kid Ok go and do sports–we have to give examples. Sometimes it’s of course hard due to time constraints. But still… And like you said, it starts with something small. I always go to the store with a backpack–it’s easier to bring back on a bike. I will try that in the US where everyone drives to the nearest store, it seems. Even that small effort, walking to the nearest store and lugging your groceries on your back, gives more boost to do something more the next day. :)

We should get some kind of a movement going, hehe. I’m 100% behind you on all this!

]]> By: jo http://www.groovybabe.co.uk/2007/08/21/benefit-of-exercise/#comment-393 jo Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:21:54 +0000 http://www.groovybabe.co.uk/2007/08/21/benefit-of-exercise/#comment-393 Re exercise - it is totally better to find something you enjoy - I find the gym really boring, but I know that it will be worth it in the end, and that if I stick with it, I will be back in my beloved combat class in a fortnight! Re exercise - it is totally better to find something you enjoy - I find the gym really boring, but I know that it will be worth it in the end, and that if I stick with it, I will be back in my beloved combat class in a fortnight!

]]> By: Jackie http://www.groovybabe.co.uk/2007/08/21/benefit-of-exercise/#comment-392 Jackie Tue, 21 Aug 2007 10:35:00 +0000 http://www.groovybabe.co.uk/2007/08/21/benefit-of-exercise/#comment-392 I think... being really sensible about it and looking at everything in a very practical way has been a great asset. And I do think it was very valuable having the instructor and nurse to be accountable. I think it's a really good way to start, to have that extra incentive from other people. In short, it's a complete lifestyle change for you, which is what it's all really about, isn't it? I guess some people just never really understand that. I think… being really sensible about it and looking at everything in a very practical way has been a great asset. And I do think it was very valuable having the instructor and nurse to be accountable. I think it’s a really good way to start, to have that extra incentive from other people. In short, it’s a complete lifestyle change for you, which is what it’s all really about, isn’t it? I guess some people just never really understand that.

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