Physical Activity
Physical wellbeing is achieved by developing all health-related components of an individual's lifestyle. Fitness is a measure of cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition. Other factors contributing to physical wellbeing include adequte nutrition, proper weight management, avoidance of drug or alcohol abuse, sexual responsibility, general hygiene and adequate sleep.
The Four Aspects of Exercise
- Cardiovascular Fitness: The more you exercise the more efficient your heart will become. This allows the heart to contract less and pump more blood.
- Muscular Strength: The old adage goes, "If you don't use it, you'll lose it." This is a perfect way to think about our muscles. Without use they will shrink.
- Endurance: This is your ability to walk, shop or run without becoming tired. Muscular strength and endurance go hand in hand. They are both necessary to maintain mobility. A resistance exercise, like weight lifting, improves both muscular strength and endurance.
- Flexibility: Are you feeling stiff in the morning as you get out of bed? Is your posture getting worse, and are you finding yourself with a lot of muscle tension? Keeping yourself flexible will help reduce your chances of an injury. Remember to always stretch before and after an exercise program. This will help decrease soreness you may feel the next day. Other great stretching exercises that will help with flexibility are yoga, low intensity cycling, pilates and walking.
Fitness Testing
Rice University Fitness Testing
Only $5 for Rice Students!
Fitness testing is a wonderful way to chart your current fitness
level and track your progress over a period of time. The fitness
assessments include general tests of cardiovascular endurance,
muscle strength, flexibility, blood pressure, body composition and more.
Contact the Recreation Center fitness specialist at 713-348-4160 to make your appointment today!
Group Fitness Classes
Join a Group Fitness class to get moving.
