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There is no such thing as a short-term commitment to exercise. Exercising is a lifetime commitment to becoming and staying fit. It's the same as a diet plan—there are short-term "quick fixes" that never last and can hurt you. Slow and steady will win the race every time. Listen to your body. The best way to look at exercise is: Train to Gain, Not to Maintain. This means always having a goal. It can be to run a mile or be able to walk up the stairs without wheezing. Once you've attained that goal, you'll set a new one, and always work toward that new one. If you only work out to maintain, then I see it as the same as going backwards. As with anything worthwhile, setting our sights on something concrete keeps us thinking, engaged in the task, and focused. We get stimulated, mentally and physically. We don't get bored. We feel alive and worthwhile. We are pleased with our progress. It's what life is all about, isn't it? Think of a balanced exercise program as a pyramid with three sections, similar to the food pyramid. At the base is Cardiovascular Aerobic Exercise—the strengthening of your heart and lungs. This is the most important support of any exercise program. Aerobic means "with oxygen," which is what is provided for the muscles you work when you are using your body for at least twenty minutes without stopping. (It takes that long for your body to get it together—no one ever said it would be easy!) Aerobic exercise burns fat because it is a readily available source of energy. This is where CardioCallanetics will come in. Next come Flexibility Exercises to improve your range of motion and circulation. Stretching helps keep joints lubricated, which helps prevents stiffness. Moves are performed slowly and carefully to encourage muscles to relax and lengthen. As with any exercise, it is crucial to learn how to stretch properly to avoid injuries. At the top are Muscular Endurance and Muscular Strength. Exercises to improve your muscles create resistance against them to teach them how to contract more efficiently, so they become stronger and more toned. Callanetics give you deep muscle tone from very specific movements—without the use of weights or any other equipment. Callanetics combines strengthening with flexibility. Your muscles must be both relaxed and warmed up to stretch properly, which is why my exercises are so safe to do. When you do Callanetics, you learn to focus on isolating and then relaxing the muscles or groups of muscles that should be working or stretching during each exercise. This superior isolation is what makes Callanetics unique and so effective.
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