Wrap Up

Closing Post for Get Up, Get Active

The key to living a longer, healthier life with a decreased chance of obtaining various chronic disease is physical activity. As Americans, we typically search for an easy way out or a quick fix to a problem, but there are many situations where you must work hard to reach your goal. However, hard work does not always mean the fun is taken away. In fact, finding a fun, enjoyable way to be active is recommended. If we enjoy the activity, we are more likely to continue it.

Living an active lifestyle can have numerous health benefits. For example, it can strengthen bones, control weight, and decrease chances of developing heart disease, some cancers, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and depression (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014). Even with all of these health benefits, only 48% of Americans are meeting the guidelines of at least 2.5 hours of physical activity a week (CDC, 2014). Less than 5% of adults are active for at least 30 minutes a day, and this is unfortunately rubbing off on today’s youth because only one-third of American children are physically active on a daily basis (President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition [PCFSN], 2014).

Reader Experience

Throughout this blog, we have discussed physical activity for the entire population as well as information directed for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals. The reason for this is because very little information on physical activity has been gathered on LGBT members, but if physical activity can have such a positive impact on overall health for everyone, this would of course include all groups of people. A lot of the health benefits from physical activity also happen to alleviate some of the leading health issues for LGBT members such as depression, obesity, and other chronic diseases.

I hoped the readers were able to learn and understand the benefits of physical activity, the LGBT community and associated disparities, and fun ways to increase physical activity. There is so much more information about these topics, but due to time constraints, the highlights were primarily published here. The nation is becoming more diverse every single day. People are beginning to feel more comfortable to be themselves instead of hiding and pretending to be someone they are not, and it is the role of every person (especially health education specialists and other health care professionals) to ensure we all are treated fairly and have the opportunity to be happy and healthy.

Thank you! -Mimi

"If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you."

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Facts about physical activity. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/data/facts.html

President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. (2014). Facts and statistics. Retrieved from http://www.fitness.gov/resource-center/facts-and-statistics/

Yoga Controversy

Is Yoga Helpful or Harmful?

The benefits and costs of yoga have been an increasingly controversial topic as the practice continues to rise in popularity. In 2006, more than 13 million adults and more than 1.5 million children practiced yoga, and these numbers are climbing every year (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine [NCCAM], 2013). Yoga is used for health purposes and typically combines physical movement, posture, breathing, and meditation or relaxation (NCCAM, 2013).

Pros

            Some types of yoga have been shown to help reduce pain and improve function for individuals with chronic low back pain (NCCAM, 2013). Additionally, yoga has been shown to reduce heart rate, decrease blood pressure, relieve anxiety, and ease depression (NCCAM, 2013). Other studies have shown yoga to improve quality of life, reduce stress levels, help relieve insomnia, and improve overall physical fitness, flexibility, and strength (NCCAM, 2013). New research is also investigating the link between yoga and decreased risk for heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, and cancer (Mercer, 2012).

 Cons

            With its rise in popularity, not all yoga trainers and practitioners are professionals who have been properly trained. Therefore, not all trainers know proper techniques and poses, which could put the individuals at an increased risk for injury. Injuries which could possibly occur from practicing yoga improperly could be stroke, nerve damage, muscle damage, and joint damage. People who are pregnant or have certain medical conditions should take caution with some poses and adapt when necessary to prevent injury.

Ultimate Decision

            Looking at both the benefits and risks, one can see why this issue is such a controversial one. When deciding if yoga, or any form of physical activity is right for you, you must consider the pros and cons. As long as yoga is practiced safely with a trained professional, side effects and serious injury is quite low (NCCAM, 2013). However, it is important to find a trained professional who is willing to work with your personal fitness goals. Additionally, you should know your body, which means you should know what your limits are. It is great to push yourself a little more each time, but the “no pain, no gain” approach should no longer be applied.

References

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (2013). Yoga for health: Get the facts. Retrieved from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/yoga/introduction.htm