I initially chose the topic of bodyweight exercises off of the topic of headstands. The idea of headstands came to me because over the summer I did yoga classes. The teacher had us do shoulder stands and explained how the blood flow to our head was increased and this could help improve our mood. She told us that there was a whole art to reversing the blood flow in our body. This sparked my interest. In addition to this when I would get scared or start getting stuck in memories I was supposed to go upside down on a wall. I never quite understood the reason for this, and it might have just gotten my mind off the present and past, but it did spark my interest in this topic too. Body weight exercises came off of the headstands because it is a broader topic that is applicable to more people.
Something I learned was how to do a tripod headstand. I had to learn for the presentation and so I practiced. I already could do a tripod, but the fine muscle control and balance was challenging in the headstand. An academic thing I learned that exercise, not specifically bodyweight exercises, can promote growth of cells in the Hippocampus.
From a young age we are taught these exercises because they are so convienent and highly adaptable. The younger child workouts are easier and use the same or similar muscle groups as the more difficult exercises. Knowing about the different intensities of these exercises is important to properly scale the exercise to the ability of the group. We can also do some of these exercises while sitting, to make the sitting less destructive to your health. An easy one to do in a chair is leg lifts to the front. This engages the core a lot and the thigh. Thi scan also help avoid pooling of the blood in the legs and promote circulation through the process of milking, the muscle contractions pumping blood up the legs. Doing bodyweight exercises can maintain a fitness level to keep the individual healthy. This can help improve overall muscle mass in the body, decrease body fat, increase cardiovascular fitness, and improve balance. Balance is improved by improving the core strength. You can also reduce your risk of atherosclerosis by exercising. The LDL in the blood stream is used for energy and therefore decreases the amount that is able to stick onto the artery walls. I would grade our wellness project as a 9.5 out of 10. I thought that I was confident and loud in my presentation and explained the concepts in an easy-to-understand manner. I could have had the activity be more flowing and pointed out the muscles as we were working out.
I am especially interested in the mental benefits of exercise, especially bodyweight exercises because they are so convenient. One benefit we talked about was agility which requires muscular strength and body awareness. Something I like about using bodyweight exercises versus a machine is I can use these skills in daily life and know how much I need to use my muscles to perform a movement. For example I know how much core I need to engage to stay upright on a bucking horse or a moving car. This I have worked on from exercising. Another benefit is some of the stagnant poses such as a wall sit make you focus on those muscles being used. The wall sit can be used so that you focus on the pain your legs are experiencing versus the thoughts your head. Your brain can only fully focus on one thing at a time; therefore, the overwhelming working sensation in your legs. The most interesting part I learned about exercising is that it can help fight depression. Regularly exercising, which I can do with these movements due to their convenience, can boot the endorphin levels and neurotransmitters in my brain, which help to improve my mood. Exercise is an easy and accessible coping skill that can be used in a variety of settings with no extra equipment needed. Overall bodyweight exercises are an easy way to get active and get the benefits of exercise.
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