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
No comments:
Post a Comment