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Ambience effect!
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Health clubs are the best options for exercise
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SWEATING OUT Have fun at health clubs PHOTO : BIJOY GHOSH
Even the most hardcore fitness freak will admit that exercise can be boring. Besides, many gyms are austere and the atmosphere puts off all but the most highly motivated.
Health clubs are expensive but they offer the chance to exercise in a pleasant and stimulating environment. It is also nice to be able to swim, do aerobics, use the treadmill, and play tennis and workout in a gym - all at one place.
Health clubs also offer better and more varied equipment, and they are more likely to have professional trainers on site. If you have the money to join a health club, go for it. But there are a few things one ought to know and do before joining a club. Most people above the age of 50 have health problems in the form of hypertension, diabetes, declining vision, arthritis and other musculoskeletal problems. It is essential that all 50-plus individuals know which exercises and sports are good for them and the ones to avoid.
This means your first day at a health club should include a health check-up and an assessment of your fitness level. If your health club does not have someone who can assess your fitness level or health, see a doctor first and fill up some health questionnaires available online from renowned organisations like the American Heart Association.
Training right
Make sure the place at least has a fitness trainer. A trainer with credentials is ideal, but what matters most is a sound understanding of basic exercise physiology and safety.
For example, the trainer should know what a realistic weight loss programme is ideal for you, how to treat a sprained ankle; how to lift weights correctly and what techniques and safety measures are appropriate for each health condition.
Finally, make sure the place has a protocol in place for when things go wrong. For example, what is the health club's method of dealing with a major accident in the gym, or a heart attack in the swimming pool?
At the very minimum, all the employees of the health club should know cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedure.
RAJIV. M
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