Low-impact Exercises are Fun and Healthy

Not everyone is made for high-level exercising. But youmuscles, your balance will improve quickly - preventing
can become fit without bouncing around in a leotard,falls - and you'll develop greater flexibility and strength.
battering your joints. Forget all the huffing, puffing,Soon you will be moving with confidence again.
lugging, lifting, and straining. Movement therapy is a• Tai chi and yoga are especially
gentle - yet effective - group of sports that includerecommended for people with arthritis.Gentle yoga can
yoga, tai chi, and Pilates. Just don't be fooled by theirimprove arthritis in your hands, for example, and tai
mild manner. These activities can whip you into shapechi's precise, flowing movements help keep your joints
without breaking a sweat.limber, relieve your pain, and keep you active.
All three have ancient Eastern roots and are merely• The dance-like stretches, poses, and
different interpretations of the same principle: keepingmaneuvers within each of these movement therapies
your body and mind in harmony naturally leads towill gently strengthen and tone your body. Pilates is
better health.especially good as a strength-training workout.
It wasn't until recently that modern science confirmed• Add yoga or Pilates to your exercise
the many physical benefits of yoga, tai chi, and Pilates.regimen if you need to improve your heart health.
With them, you can improve your balance, flexibility,• In today's hectic world, it may be hard to
and strength - no matter what your age, weight, orsqueeze an extra 30 minutes of exercise into your
fitness level.schedule - at least without feeling even more stress.
No Pain - but great gainThe beautiful thing about movement therapy is that it
Yoga, tai chi, and Pilates are gentle enough for anyonecombines stress relief with exercise, so you kill two
to try. If you consider yourself in bad health or disabledbirds with one stone.
in some way, you're a perfect candidate for theseAll the activities - tai chi, yoga, and Pilates - are done
movement therapies. You can ease into the programsslowly, with intense focus on proper breathing and
slowly and set your own pace. It's easy to stick withposture. They all relax your body and calm your mind.
them and you'll see improvement quickly.As you can see, you can boost your overall health
Here are just some of the benefits you will get fromwith these joyful, health-giving movements.
these soothing approaches to fitness.Things to know before you give it a go
• When you were a child, tripping and fallingJust to be safe, make sure that you take these
meant just another minor scrape. But as you get older,precautions before starting any new exercise
taking a tumble can have serious and crippling effects.program.
If your sense of balance is as bad as Humpty• Get your doctor's approval on your fitness
Dumpty's,these are the safest forms of exercise forplan, especially if you've badly injured your back, neck,
you.knees,or shoulders in the past.
Just like the trick to growing tomatoes is to keep the• The stretches, poses, and movements of
main stalk strong, the trick to great balance is to keepthese therapies should not hurt. If you feel pain, stop
your core muscles strong. The bands of muscle inand check your technique before continuing.
your abdomen, lower back, and buttocks are the• Pilates is the most intense of the three
center of strength and control for the rest of yourexercise forms. You may want to try one of the less
body.strenuous programs first if you are out of shape.
All three examples of movement therapy are relatively• Be forewarned, you might get addicted to
stationary,but because they strengthen your corethese calming sports.