Posts Tagged ‘running’

A Look At The Benefits Of Running Vs Walking

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

All workouts are not created equal. Both running and walking are good for the body, but there are some pretty big differences between the two. An examination of those differences can help you decide which is right for you today. The benefits of running vs walking need to be explored.

Both these exercises are similar, yet very different. The same muscles and motions are used. It can be beneficial to incorporate both into your workout, using walking as a way to warm up for your run and cool off after. Both have advantages and disadvantages, so a quick look at the pros and cons is in order.

Walking might be a better solution than running for certain people. These people include those who have become overweight or who are only a novice when it comes to fitness. This method is limited in results, where running can provide a much better workout. Walking doesn’t provide the long term fitness that running can.

Overall, the benefits of running will outweigh walking. At the end of the day you won’t burn the calories or see the results that you will if you run. If running is difficult for you, consider upgrading from walking to jogging or power walking, and then eventually moving up to running.

There is a difference in impact too. Running might provide better results, but the impact on your knees, ankles, and other joints can be significant. The repetitive pounding might lead to inflammation of the joints that can be painful, and might prove a problem in the long run. Walking will have much less of an impact. Weigh the pros and cons carefully.

Both of these activities are great for the body. Both will burn calories and help you get into shape. There are some significant differences that should be considered. Walking is a great way to start out, but your results will be limited. Running is much more effective, but can have a bigger impact on your body. Weigh the pros and cons and decide which is best for you.

Felecia Simpson is a contributing author and writes articles on several health subjects and fitness equipments. Visit her site for free advice on buying the walking pedometers and digital pedometers that will make you exercise more productive. You are welcome to reprint this article – but get your own unique content version here.

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Learning Parkour – The Best 3 Ways to Learn Parkour

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

In this article we will discuss ways of learning parkour and the 3 best methods of doing so. This exciting and fascinating sport is becoming more and more popular, but that doesn’t mean it is easy, far from it. Read the reasons below to see how you can get started in this noncompetitive sport.

1. Youtube Videos: Youtube has a variety of videos available to you for free. From basic moves to more advanced there is something there for everyone. Online videos showing you examples are a great way to learn, and learning from someone who is more advanced will help you to perfect your own techniques.

2. Parkour Handbook: In addition to videos, you can get a Parkour and Free Running handbook that will teach you the essentials and get you started in the world of parkour. You’ll learn more about the history as well as some basic moves.

It is essentially a user’s manual that includes information about the techniques, the culture, the clothes and more information about the urban communities that are popping up all over with a common interest in this noncompetitive sport.

3. Find a Group: It is becoming pretty common to be able to find a group in your area; urban locations especially are thriving with those interested in parkour and free running. Having ample obstacles to move past is essential to parkour which is why urban landscapes are perfect.

Having someone show you the ropes and get you started with parkour is the best way to improve your own skills. Having a spotter and others to inspire your own tricks will help you learn and excel at parkour. Even doing a basic back flip can be a little scary at first, but having someone there who has your back will help you learn this and many other skills so that pretty soon doing parkour moves becomes automatic, like breathing.

In this article we discussed learning Parkour and 3 ways you can learn parkour easily and without risking injuries. Youtube has many parkour videos you can learn from, whether you are brand new or not, you can get many new ideas from watching others perform parkour moves. For beginners there is a great Parkour handbook that will teach you all about the history of parkour and free running and get you started with some basic techniques.

You can also join a group or community in your area and start learning parkour. Having support and others able to help you practice parkour tricks can be a great way to learn without risking injury.

Want to know more?

Grace Robins has more information about where to learn parkour, visit learn to do parkour for more information about this fascinating sport.

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Finding the Right Exercise Plan for You

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

Without exercise, you are not going to be losing the pounds-in fact, you will likely gain weight or your body will begin to eat away at what muscles you do have. With the right exercise plan you will not only be losing weight but you will be increasing your muscle, stamina, and energy. It is important that when creating your exercise plan, that you develop every part of your body equally.

If you have access to a gym, they will usually have machines that can allow you to work multiple parts of your body at once, giving you the ability to cut down your time spent there. There are alternatives though. If you aren’t a gym member, or if you just rather workout on your own or in a different way, you still have many different options.

Biking – This is a great choice for losing weight tip, no matter what physical condition you are in because you set your difficulty levels. If you aren’t in great shape you can choose flat roads and bike a short distance and still get a good workout. You can also step it up by increasing the distance or by riding through hilly areas. One important thing is that you have the bike in the right gear. A local bicycle shop would be a great place to start.

Swimming – Who doesn’t love a good swim? It probably reminds you of those summer days as a kid, and it is also a great way to drop pounds. Swimming is easy on the body, especially the joints, while providing a healthy work out. If you haven’t swum before, lessons can be found at your local community center or swimming pool, as well as in your yellow pages. Be sure to swim at pools with lifeguards if you are not the most-experienced swimmer because you never know what could happen. Swimming is an excellent activity to add to your exercise plan.

Running – This is a great way to stay healthy, although this is probably for those that are in a little bit better shape from the start. It works your legs and core muscles and definitely builds up your stamina.

 Biking, swimming, and running are all good exercises to incorporate into your exercise plan-just choose your favorite!

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