Fitness FAQs

Q: How can exercise help me?

A: Getting fitter and being more physically active can actually slow the onset of disease or improve symptoms if you already suffer from a chronic condition. It can slow the aging process, ward off symptoms of depression or anxiety, help you sleep better and improve feelings of well being.

Q: How can being sedentary harm me?

A: Being sedentary leads to a weak cardiovascular system, weak muscles and stiff joints, which are easily injured. Without regular physical activity, you are at a much higher risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, fatigue and obesity.

Q: What if I've never exercised before?

A: It's never too late to start. First, consult your healthcare professional for a thorough assessment. Then start slowly. Some people start with as little as two minutes of cardiovascular exercise a day. You will be amazed at how your body responds, allowing you to add a little time each week until you work your way up to the level of exercise recommended for you.

Q: How often should I exercise?

A: Researchers and health professionals are recommending that healthy people work their way up to exercising aerobically most days of the week - or at least five. Strength training should be done two to three times a week, and stretching every other day. This is a recommendation. If you don't exercise now, any time you devote to exercising is a 100% improvement over not doing it!

Q: How long should I exercise?

A: Aerobically, for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Strength training should take about 30 minutes to an hour for each session, and stretching should be done for about 10 minutes.

Q: How hard should I exercise?

A: If you are healthy and under age 65, you should work your way up to being able to exercise at an intensity that causes your heart rate to rise to between 70 percent and 85 percent of your maximum. Your maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age. If you are older, you should aim for 60 percent to 75 percent of your maximum heart rate. A Fitness Coach or Personal Trainer can help you to determine the intensity of your workout.

Q: What's the best exercise for me?

A: The key to sticking with an exercise program is choosing activities you enjoy. For strength training, you can choose to work out on weight machines or you can work out with hand weights or resistance equipment. Walking, jogging, cycling, aerobics and other types of classes - from dancing to step - are all good cardiovascular exercise choices. Again, you can choose to exercise in a group exercise class with others, along with a trainer or by yourself on this fitness floor. Cross-training, which is doing different activities on different days, is often recommended to combat boredom, change up your routine, and helps prevent over-use and injury.

Q: What if I have a chronic condition?

A: Many health care professionals recommend exercise for a wide variety of chronic conditions. In these cases, your exercise program needs to be tailored by a professional to your needs. Please make us aware of any physical issues or chronic conditions you may have. Many of our personal trainers work specifically with those who need a tailored program due to health and physical conditions.