Aerobic & Anaerobic: Why You Should Care

Scouring the internet for an informative, yet somewhat comprehensible explanation of the terms “Aerobic” and “Anaerobic” is no easy task, yet they are basic topics in fitness that many people would do well to understand. You don’t have to understand the complex scientific reasoning to understand how they can both be beneficial to your overall wellness; you just need to understand that the body responds differently to various forms of exercise. This is a very, very basic explanation of two types of exercise.

From a denotative perspective, the words “Aerobic” and “Anaerobic” mean “living with oxygen” and ”living without oxygen”, respectively. This refers to how the body fuels the activity. It’s important to remember that it’s a balance, not a one-or-the-other type of relationship. Some activities that people consider aerobic have anaerobic qualities and vice versa. You don’t have to develop one capacity at the expense of the other and most activities are not wholly aerobic or anaerobic.

Activities such as jogging, elliptical, and cycling are often considered aerobic since the intensity rises slowly. You will usually see the cardio section at the gym jam-packed with exercisers because this type of exercise has numerous benefits. The wellness benefits associated with aerobic activity include: strengthening the lungs and heart, reducing blood pressure and stress, and reducing the risk for diabetes.

 On the other hand, anaerobic activity is often at a higher intensity and includes things such as sprinting, lifting weights, and doing circuits. One way to remember that anaerobic means without air, is to think about our natural instinct to hold our breath when exerting a force (timing your inhalations as you lift weights or sprinters who hold their breath as they wait for the gun to sound). In addition to the obvious performance benefits that one can get from this type of activity, it can help with building lean muscle (as opposed to burning fat) and increasing bone density. This type of exercise is usually noted for the significantly lower amount of time required to see benefits as opposed to aerobic exercise.

            Both anaerobic and aerobic activities have distinct benefits, yet it is important to evaluate your goals and incorporate them accordingly. There is not just one solution for every fitness goal.

Savannah Steamer, Intern