Sustainable Fitness with Nia

Sustainable Fitness - A Goal You Can Feel Good About!

The buzz-word sustainability refers to maintaining balance in ecological, social and economic systems by regenerating resources. Sustainable fitness means maintaining our health through the rejuvenating benefits of exercise. It also means a lifetime of enjoyable activity.

Many of us have health goals for the New Year and set out for the treadmills in earnest after the holidays. However, attendance at fitness centers typically drops off by March, due to unrealistic goals and boredom.

So, what is a good goal, and how can you sustain your interest in fitness?

The primary goal should not be to lose weight or lower cholesterol, but to have fun. Choosing activities you enjoy is the key to long-term fitness. Whether you like traditional sports such as tennis and golf, or the simple pleasure of walking with friends—or walking the dog—do something fun and invigorating. Health clubs and community centers also offer interesting activities such as chi-walking, contra-dancing, martial arts and Nia Fitness classes. Check your local papers or online event calendars. Try different activities until you find yourself saying, “I love this!”

Help your kids discover what they enjoy. For many children and teens, Physical Education (PE) is not fun. It’s a source of stress, either constant pressure to win or constant humiliation. It’s no wonder that many people grow up hating to exercise. When I was a kid, PE focused on drills, or dodging and throwing objects—activities which didn’t interest me or suit me physically. But after school I played a mean game of kick-the-can, or made up dance routines with friends.

Help your kids get a good start to a life of sustainable fitness by encouraging activities they like, and let them enjoy it for the sake of fun. Appreciate your body type to find an activity that suits you, and help your child discover his or her forte. Those with slender frames by nature often don’t have great endurance and brute strength, but do well in activities involving balance and flexibility, such as Yoga, dance, and Tai Chi. Those with heavier frames do well in sports which emphasize endurance and strength, such as running, aerobics, rowing and other vigorous exercise.

Choose an activity that is energizing. The old “no pain, no gain” approach to exercise is stressful, and ultimately leads to injury or burnout—the opposite of health. Even the right activity can be harmful if done to the point of exhaustion, which is an unbalanced use of our body’s energy resource.

Remember, sustainable means regenerative.

“The Joy of Movement is the secret of fitness,” according to Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas, fitness educators who, 25 years ago, co-founded the Nia Technique—a fusion of dance, martial arts and healing movement. “Exercise that’s done strictly for its own physical sake, divorced from the emotions and human spirit, isn’t satisfying, isn’t fun, and eventually fails. To feel good enough to last a lifetime, an exercise regimen must satisfy the heart and soul.” 1

About the Author

Ondine Constable recovered from the trauma of PE, and at age 42, became a teacher of the Nia Fitness Technique—exhilarating fun reminiscent of those childhood kick-the-can games and dance routines. Nia is a non-impact aerobic fitness program, suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. For more information, see www.NiaNow.com and Ondine’s site at www.niawave.blogspot.com