HEALING THROUGH EXERCISE
Pilates for stress
Stress is hard on the body. It can cause things like headaches, high blood pressure and even hair loss, which is why Pilates is so good because it synchronises the mental with the physical. By emphasising proper breathing, correct spinal/pelvic alignment and complete concentration on smooth, flowing movement, it makes you acutely aware of how your body feels and how it works. It’s like a physical meditation, reducing tension and promoting feelings of calm and relaxation. No other exercise system gives such a challenging workout while being so gentle on the body with many of the positions low-impact and partially weight-bearing performed either reclining or sitting, making it ideal for sports injury rehabbers as well as sufferers of chronic medical conditions.

Jogging for sexual dysfunction
Erection problems are associated with a knackered vascular system so Carol Krucoff, fitness expert and co-author of Healing Moves: How To Cure, Relieve & Prevent Common Ailments (snappy, eh?), is a firm believer in movement as medicine, suggesting jogging or power-walking for a couple of miles every day: “Research shows sedentary men may be able to reduce the risk of developing erectile dysfunction by adopting regular physical activity.” Which has to be better than enduring the embarrassment of not bringing home the fire wood or resorting to the chemicalised stiffness of Viagra.

Yoga for asthma
Ease your asthma with yoga. A team from the University of Sydney asked 57 patients with mild asthma to perform yoga-like breathing exercises twice a day for 30 weeks. They found some patients were up to 86% less reliant on their inhalers. “Not only does yoga increase the amount of oxygen you can draw into the lungs, it also relaxes the muscles in your airways,” claims lead researcher Dr Cassandra Slader, adding that yoga should only be used as a supplement and never a replacement for trad medication.

CHOOSING YOUR WORKOUT
If you’re terrible at treadmilling or rubbish on the rower, it might not be simply down to terminal laziness. Scientific studies show athletic ability is linked to our genes, meaning some of us may be better at strength exercises while others excel at endurance ones. If you want to find out exactly what suits you take a DNA test. OK, that sounds a tad extreme, but US company Cygene has recently launched the Optimum Athletic Performance DNA Analysis to identify where best to channel your exercise energy. The test, a simple cheek swab costing a pretty reasonable 50 quid, can also pinpoint areas of weakness, like bone strength, which could help avoid sports injuries. All you have to do is send your saliva specimen (nice) to Cygene and log online to get your results. Just don’t use it to resolve any Jeremy Kyle-style parentage issues.
www.cygenedirect.com

10 WORKOUT TIPS
1. Use exercise as your primary mode of transport. Walking or cycling to work is not only good exercise, but easy on the wallet and the environment.
2. Give a new form of exercise a go because even our muscles can get stuck in a rut.
3. Enter an event to give direction and encourage you not to give up the fitness routine.
4. Exercise daily. Even if it’s only a quick stroll to Tesco for the Stella.
5. Keep hydrated. Your body will respond more effectively to exercise and will need less recovery-time.
6. Get a workout buddy. It makes exercising more fun and keeps you incentive-tough.
7. Don’t join a fancy gym if all you want to use is the treadmill. Remember running is free and being out in the fresh air is better for your lungs.
8. Be realistic about your goals. Toning up or losing two stone in a week ain’t gonna happen.
9. Reward yourself with a sports massage or spa treatment to stiffen your resolve.
10. Ultimately, work with your body. Energy levels peak and trough throughout the day so exercise when you’re more oomphed to get the best out of your workout.

WORKING IT OUT

<<<BACK We know exercise is good for us but what’s right for our own individual bodies?
Jason Jones reports on workouts for well-being