So let's face it. You need it. You cannot live without it. You have no excuse not to do it. Exercise is everywhere. Opportunities for exercise abound wherever you may be, from the basketball courts and cricket pitches in the "hood" to the gyms and personal trainers who serve those willing to pay; from physical education in schools to trees, drains and streets in the neighbourhood after all the homework is complete. I saw my neighbour returning from walking to the nearby grocery and I thought it so wonderful that she was using an errand for exercise. I also try to use an opportunity for exercise by walking my very large 6-month-old dog regularly, for if she gets no exercise, she ends up exercising her jaws on my plants and wicker furniture. She almost equals my weight and as an excited puppy, insists on trotting, so I am sure to get a sweat every time I walk her. The concept of exercising anywhere is a fundamental part of the TRX trainer (suspension training straps), which fits in a small bag that you really can take anywhere and with which you can do endless exercises. But if you're like me, you need more structure in your exercise programme. After designing and prescribing rehabilitative exercises at Total Rehab all day long, the last thing I want to do is design an exercise routine for myself. I want someone to do that for me now. So I understand and accept that I need more structure and an actual "class" where I can be properly trained while I remain in a mindless state.
If you need the structure, there are countless means and ways of exercising in Trinidad. Whether you are a fitness fanatic or just interested in a healthy lifestyle, you can have your pick of the crop! Where do I begin! Well, Carnival brought with it the Zumba craze. This is the latin-inspired fitness dancing that has spread worldwide and involves lots of derriere vibrations and shaking. This type of exercise seems to have taken the place of the typical aerobics in popularity. In these classes, men are a rare sight and would probably much prefer the spin or boot camp sessions some gyms offer. In fact, some boot camp trainers even take their trainees outdoors to take advantage of the landscape and physical challenges nature has to offer. All that is needed is a little creativity and sense of adventure on the part of the trainer! Speaking of adventure, there is also "adventure training," where one can get exercise in the wilderness by literally going on an "adventure." Here, the trainer leads his group on trails and activities in the outdoors, which he has already pre-scouted and organised. These activities can involve rope-climbing drills, team building physical activities, hiking, scrambling up mountainsides and swimming through rivers and gorges. I was an avid adventurer, but the time commitment became too much. You can be creative and design your own exercise space in your home, as this will surely be convenient. Years ago, my grandfather converted his garage into a gym filled with old dumb bells and equipment he McGuyver-ed into machines and benches. To this day, my father, uncle and friends exercise old-school style amongst decades of rust layers that coat the barbells, the odour of grime, sweat and oil exuding from the garage lined with old wooden floors and cracked mirrors. It is a family tradition, convenient, and filled with the motivation of exercising with friends, in the spirit of my grandfather.
If that is not thrilling enough for you, more risky forms of fitness are mixed martial arts, krav maga, hapkido and other types of fighting and self-defense. These instructors have capitalised on the fitness demands of their art form, marketing it not only as learning self-defense, but also as a means of getting fit. For other folks, who may opt for calmer forms of exercise, there are also myriads of choices. Yoga takes different forms, from the mooksha yoga in heated rooms, to the hatha yoga, which is the most basic yoga and encompasses a number of styles including breathing and meditation. This type can offer a more mental/spiritual type of exercise. There is also pilates, which emphasizes balance in the body through core strength, flexibility and body awareness in order to create efficient movement. This, like yoga, can be great for those with back pain. Aqua aerobics is an excellent form of decreased weight bearing exercise for those with different types of pain ranging from arthritis, to stroke, to low back pain and orthopedic injuries. In the aquatic environment, one can exercise in a pain-reduced manner and get all the benefits of land-based exercise.
For sufferers of osteoporosis there is tai chi, which has been shown in some research studies to assist with increasing bone density and improving balance and strength. This in turn decreases the risk of falls and therefore fractures caused by falling. There is even exercise that involves the latest in gaming systems! This week in the clinic I saw a wonderful patient who has Parkinsons disease. He and his wife, who are in their seventies, play tennis! Actually, there have been studies supporting the use of Wii for older adults and also for those with Parkinson's disease. What a fabulous way for senior citizens to have fun, interact and stay mobile all at the same time! If geriatric homes had such opportunities for their tenants, elderly living would be so much more pleasant, active and vibrant. For success in fitness and health, compliance in exercise is key so it is imperative that you find something that works for you and that is enjoyable, otherwise just kiss all those New Year's resolutions and fitness goals goodbye! I find exercising with friends and colleagues very helpful, as there is a commitment to meet them and therefore I will not blow off my exercise. So whether you are a cancer patient, or busy with a career and family, there is really no excuse not to exercise. Whether you choose to ride bikes with the family in Chaguaramas on a Sunday morning or engage in meditative and stretching activities, the options are endless. You do not have to be healthy to exercise, all you have to do is want to be healthy and pick from the endless choices available to you. There is something for everyone!