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The term aerobics means using oxygen. It gives you more energy and makes you feel better about yourself. It will raise your heart rate and get blood and oxygen flowing more quickly around your body.

Author:
Carolyn Clayton

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The term aerobics means using oxygen. It gives you more energy and makes you feel better about yourself. It will raise your heart rate and get blood and oxygen flowing more quickly around your body.

The goal of taking aerobics is to improve all elements of fitness, flexibility, muscular strength and cardio-vascular fitness. It comprises rhythmic exercise with stretching and strength training and is generally performed to music in a group that is being led by an instructor. These classes are often divided into beginning, intermediate and advanced. There are different routines and fitness goals for each of these classes.

The main reason that many people take up an aerobics class is to lose weight but aerobics classes can also be used to:

? Relieve stress
? Strengthen bones
? Prevent/lower high blood pressure
? Maintain appropriate weight for height and build
? Tone muscles
? Improve confidence and self esteem
? Relieve depression and lift your mood
? Maintain flexibility
? Fight the ageing process

A general aerobics routine usually lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. You will start your aerobics routine with a warm up, which takes about five minutes to complete. This warm up is usually done on the floor. After your warm up you will move onto stretches, which again will last about five minutes. These stretches are intended to lengthen muscles ready for your actual aerobics work out, which comes next. The actual routine will last about 35 minutes. Once you have completed your routine you will perform a cool-down exercise lasting roughly five minutes. This cool-down will gradually decrease in tempo allowing better circulation. Once your cool-down exercises have been performed you will be able to complete your final stretches.

There are two main types of aerobics that are based on the impact of the exercise. These are categorised as high impact and low impact. High impact is a very energetic performance that involves a lot of movement which will lift you off the ground such as jumping, hopping and jogging. A high impact practice will make your body release endorphins and serotonin, which make you feel refreshed and energised.

The second type of impact is low impact aerobics. These are floor based exercises that involve a lot of stretch movements. These low impact performances are good for people who are older, pregnant, with weak joints and who are recovering from surgery.

There are certain circumstances where aerobics is not advised and if you fit into one of the following categories then it is important that you do not undergo aerobics:

? You have a history of heart or respiratory problems
? You have problems with your joints
? You have recently had surgery, or are prone to or recovering from injury (high impact only)

If you are looking for a keep fit programme that you can easily fit into your busy life then aerobics could be the answer that you are looking for. Classes can usually be taken late in the evening and on weekends so that it doesn?t disturb your working day. It is also suitable for both men and women.

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