PAGE 12
arts and culture
A Little Sheep Told Me: Make 2014 your fittest
year
ANGIE SHEEP
Arts and Culture Editor
THE MOST COM MON phenomenon that happens at the beginning of
every year is the making of New Year’s
resolutions. And the most widespread
commitment around the planet is the
ambitious goa l of becoming f itter,
healthier and more energetic. Gym
memberships always skyrocket around
this time and personal trainers have
never been so high in demand. But like
every fad, it withers away eventually;
the centers become slower and quieter
(that is, until the start of next year).
This year, however, things will be different! I command it so.
2014 is the first year that I have made
a f itness resolution. I usually never
set foot in the gym. I hate sweating. I
hate being exhausted. I hate working
out. But since starting yoga a couple of
years ago, I have opened up to the idea
of being active and living better. Let’s
not kid ourselves though; a healthy lifestyle is not the driving force behind my
resolve. I eat and drink too much delicious “ junk ” to commit to that. I just
must have that solid, toned beach body!
Because you never know when you
will be hitting the sun and sand (reading week, anyone?). So in this article,
I am sharing a few exercises and tips
that I have gathered and will be applying myself. Hopefully these will get me
through the lazy, frigid winter!
Why this resolution?
A commitment to exercise has been
circling my brain for the past few
months. I’ve repeatedly weighed the
pros and cons of moving my limbs and
to be honest, there are no real disadvantages, only excuses. One of the greatest
benefits of staying active that convinced
me was posture. Being in front of computers all day and night really takes a
toll on our shoulders and back. We are
always inclining forward, which can
lead to back and joint pain, reduced
f lexibility and compromised muscles.
If these side effects are not enough to
convince you, what about diminishing height and conf idence? There’s no
reason why we should not all stand tall
and proud. Strengthening your body
Monday, November 18, 2013
will get you there. So what should we
do?
Don’t go cardio nuts
The importance of elevating your
heart rate and doing cardio cannot be
overstated. However, for those of us who
simply don’t like that torturous feeling,
30 - 40 minutes are enough. And you
don’t need to go overboard, just enough
to get that heart pumping. Doing a bit
of cardio each workout will help maintain a lean muscle prof ile and prevent
sagging and aging. It’s also important
to remember to take it slow; it will most
likely take more than one try before
reaching that optimal time.
Try lowering the intensity
Intense exercises stress me out. I
have observed my friends do routines
like P90X many times and I feel like my
heart is exploding out of my chest just
by watching the clips. I enjoy cardio
at a much slower pace. You should do
whatever that works for you because
that usually compels you to stay with
it longer. Jogging, fast-paced yoga and
Pilates are fantastic alternatives. As I
said, you need to get that heart pumping, but there are many ways to do it.
Improve your metabolism the smart way
and follow your own preferences instead
of buying into the newest fad.
Squats and more
Squats are awesome. They do wonders for your legs and tush, especially
since we need to counterbalance all that
sitting! But squats can be hard on your
knees over time. Whenever I do them,
my joints crack and I really dislike that
feeling. I have therefore taken up swimming instead. The water helps my brain
and joints relax, thereby creating a less
straining experience. So if you have
access to a pool, def initely take advantage!
Never stop working that core
One way to incorporate exercise into
your busy schedule is multitasking,
especially when it comes to your core.
Your abs can almost always be engaged.
During lectures, only sit on half of
your butt, so that the other half is basically hanging off the edge. This forces
you to not only sit up straight but also
use your abdominals to hold yourself
upright. But be warned, if you want to
take a break, remember to adjust f irst
or you will most likely fall on your
tush. Standing tall also requires applying your core muscles, so there’s no
excuse to not always work that (pick
your number) pack!
You can do it in your sleep
The way you sleep directly impacts
your posture. If you’re like me and
love to shrivel up into the fetal position, it’s time to change that. Sleep ing with your back rounded can cause
straining to your neck and shoulders
over time, causing them to grow tighter
and stiffer. Your shoulders will then be
even more inclined to round forward
due to the tightness. If you still want
to sleep on your side, experts recommend laying with one arm stretched
downwards instead of curled. This will
align the spine and straighten out the
back. I think this is the best tip I’ve
received yet! Even if I couldn’t get to
the gym that day, at least I can still do
one workout.
Get a buddy
Having a companion is the best motivator and a workout buddy comes in
many forms. It can be your dog, partner, friend or even your ff