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Five Things You Don't (and should!) Know About Stress
Whether it's called stress management, relaxation training, or its newest incarnation, "Resiliancy," it seems that the question of healthy response to the stress of daily life is on everyone's mind. But it's important to remember a few things...

Florida State University Study Prompts Humane Self-Defense Training Class
ROBBINSDALE, Minn. - It has been a common belief that it is better to offer no resistance to attackers, but now a study from the Florida State University Department of Criminology indicates just the opposite. In response to this study, a...

Is Aikido a Martial Art? Part 3
PART 3 The Converted In articles parts one and two I have covered the introduction of Aikido to the West, and the impact on other Martial Artists, Aikido progressed and developed in the UK by visiting existing dojos of all the various...

Kick Your Body Into 2nd Gear -- In 3 Easy Steps
When it comes to life in general, 90% of us feel the need to loose weight or change the way we look in some way. Once we’ve undertaken our fitness quest for weight loss or hypertrophy, usually after the first week or two we find that the energy...

The Martial Arts and Self-Defense - Emotional Response and Reaction
The media has fuelled the perception that ordinary people on the street are in constant danger from violent attack, and self-defense classes promise to counter this fear. To attract students, most martial arts schools in the U.S....

 
What The Heck Is An Exercise Modality, And Why Should I Care?

What are you trying to get out of your exercise program? Are you trying to lose weight? Are you trying to put on muscle mass? Are you training for a sport or an athletic contest of some kind?

Okay, now that you've answered the question of why you are exercising to begin with, you are now ready to ask yourself what type of exercise program you will need to get involved with in order to accomplish that goal.

If you answered "aerobics", "weight training", "yoga", "flexibility exercises", "martial arts", or pretty much any other form of exercise that you can imagine, then congratulations are in order! You've just answered the question, "What the heck is an exercise modality"?

Simply put, an exercise modality is a system or form of exercise that is designed to elicit a very specific response from the body of the individual who is engaging in the exercise. In the case of aerobics, most people are trying to get their body to shed excess bodyfat and to increase their level of cardiovascular endurance. Weight or resistance training exercisers are usually trying to grow or tone their muscles to make them stronger, bigger, or more attractive. People who practice Yoga are usually after a stronger mind/body connection in order to gain more energy or awareness.

The possibilities are endless. There are so many exercise modalities out there that even trying to name them all would be a waste of time. Even as this article is written, and even as you - the reader - take in its information, someone somewhere is probably coming up with a new "exercise modality".

So why even try to learn them? Why should you care about exercise modalities? Simply put, because you need to practice them!

No, that doesn't mean that you have to be able to run a marathon, bench press 400 lbs, balance on your pinky toe, and dance a jig all at the same time...

The point is not that you have to become proficient in any specific exercise modality. You do need to learn about different types of training, though. No matter how effective your present exercise program is, one of two things is either already happening, or is going to happen eventually:

1) Your body is adapting to the stimulus provided by your chosen exercise modality, and you are not seeing the same results from it that you saw in the beginning.

2) The exercise modality that you have chosen is lacking in one or more of the measurements of good health:


strength, cardiovascular conditioning, flexibility, agility, balance, tensile strength of bones, tendons, and ligaments, basic survival skills such as starting and limit strength, swimming capabilities, or a heightened level of neuromuscular coordination.

As you can see, simply being able to run through a circuit of weight machines at the gym and then jumping into an aerobics class is not sufficient for a level of health and fitness that is both complete, as well as sustainable over the long-term.

Despite what you may think, there will never be a time in your life when it is appropriate or healthy for you to "back off" and give up on exercise or proper nutrition. From today until the day when you leave this Earth, you will need the high quality of life that is provided by the proper level of health and fitness.

In order to ensure that your health and fitness program does not allow your body to adapt to a certain stimulus, as well as to ensure that your program includes activity in each of the measurable levels of health and fitness, you must practice different exercise modalities on a regular basis.

Don't scoff at Pilates because you think it is for wimps. Those of you in the aerobics room don't look at the weight lifters as if they are a bunch of cavemen who know nothing about true fitness. Those of you in the Yoga frame of mind, open up your mind to the fact that Yoga alone is not going to maintain your level of health and your quality of life from now until the end. Martial artists - step out of the Dojo and pick up some dumbbells or balance on an exercise ball once in awhile.

There is no single exercise modality that is perfect for everyone, all the time. Yes, there are certain modalities that work better for certain people, but that doesn't mean that you should never check out new activities and experiences.

Close-mindedness has never resulted in positive results in the entire history of our planet. It's not going to start now. Open your mind to new possibilities and you will open yourself to new experiences and a higher quality of life itself.

Who knows? You might even enjoy it!

About the author:

Aaron Potts is a Certified Personal Trainer, and also hosts a daily free fitness tips podcast at http:/ /www.fitnessdestinations.com/fitnesstips.html

 

The World's Martial Arts Information Center
Your personal guide to the exciting world of martial arts. Locate schools, organizations, styles and much more.
www.martialinfo.com
 
Martial arts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Today, martial arts are studied for various reasons including combat skills, fitness, ... A practitioner of martial arts is referred to as a martial artist. ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
About Martial Arts - Martial Arts Styles, Training, Supplies ...
Martial Arts Styles, Free Tutorials, Training Tips & our great MA Forum. Find A Martial Arts School, Choose a Style and Read Great Articles.
martialarts.about.com
 
martialarts.org - a guide to all styles of the martial arts
A guide to all styles of martial arts. Live classes, media, articles,free email.
www.martialarts.org
 
Martial Arts TRICKZ
infos, pictures and videos about martial arts tricks.
www.bilang.com
 
Martial Arts Supplies including Uniforms and Weapons
Offers martial arts and boxing equipment, uniforms, weapons, and accessories.
www.karatedepot.com
 
Martial Arts weapons shop
Martial arts weapons including sais, kamas, nunchaku, swords and tonfa. Great prices, fast ship times, $2.95 shipping.
www.karatedepot.com
 
The Virtual Library: Martial Arts
The Virtual Library: Martial Arts collection is an index of stable web sites that offer information on any martial art. This collection of sites is checked ...
www.microbiol.org
 
Mixed Martial Arts DVDs, MMA News & Grappling Gear
World Martial Arts is the leading producer of contemporary martial art instructional videos and martial arts supplies. World Martial Arts sells the hottest ...
www.groundfighter.com
 
Martial Art Equipment at Century Martial Art Supply - Martial arts ...
Martial arts supplies including uniforms, karate equipment, sparring gear and martial arts weapons. martial arts uniforms, martial art equipment, ...
www.centuryma.com
 
Irish Martial Arts Commission
Membership for organizations teaching Aikido, Bujutsu, Karate, Kendo, Iaido, kickboxing, Kung Fu, Ninjutsu, Tae Kwon Do and Sambo wrestling.
www.martialarts.ie
 
Martial Arts in the Yahoo! Directory
Learn about martial arts and its many forms in sites about aikido, kung fu, judo, ju jitsu, and more. Explore various techniques, history, and fan sites for ...
dir.yahoo.com
 
The Worldwide Directory of Martial Arts Clubs and Classes - USA
Martial Arts Clubs.com is a directory of martial arts clubs worldwide. It is free to register a club and free to search for a club.
www.martialartsclubs.com
 
Complete Martial Arts.com
Covering many aspects of martial arts including styles, schools, celebrities, and merchandise.
www.completemartialarts.com
 
Martial Arts Supply | Karate Equipment | AMAS
AMAS Martial Art Supply offers Karate Equipment, Martial Arts Uniforms, Karate Uniforms, Martial Arts Weapons and more.
www.amas.net
 
Paragon Martial Arts - martial arts clothing - martial arts ...
martial arts, martial arts clothing, martial art, martial arts supply, martial arts footwear, martial arts equipment, tae kwon do, martial arts shop, ...
www.paragonmartialarts.co.uk
 
BudoSeek! Martial Arts Community
BudoSeek! Martial Arts Community is the Internet's FIRST Search Engine and Portal Community exculsively for the Martial Arts Community.
www.budoseek.net
 
Martial Arts Humor
A list of jokes from real life comic situations to top 10 type jokes.
www.binary.net
 
Atlanta Martial Arts Directory
A listing of martial arts schools in the Atlanta area. karate, kung fu, tae kwon do, hap ki do, aikido, kenpo, tai chi, taiji.
www.atlantamartialarts.com
 
Martial Arts Register
Martial Arts portal. Free registration for your club and events. What's on, suppliers and Arts information and lots more....
www.martialartsregister.co.uk
 
 

 

Content Menu
  • 2 minute fitness

  • 7 ideas to take your fitness training outside

  • 8 technical aspects of the martial arts

  • about no rules full contact fighting

  • advanced military technology in the martial arts

  • advantages of martial arts for kids

  • aikido sensei derek eastman biography part one

  • aikido the derek eastman sensei biography part four

  • aikido the derek eastman sensei biography part three

  • amazing kung fu martial arts history

  • are the martial arts still under development

  • are you combat fit

  • a gorgeous flooring for yoga and exercise tatami interlocking mats

  • a martial arts website using mind body and spirit

  • a natural bodybuilding do 769 way of life

  • before you buy that self defense product

  • black belts and good wine

  • bodybuilding sins that cause back pain and missed workouts part 2

  • british aikido board controversy

  • british aikido board national nepotism seminar

  • british aikido board national nepotism seminar 2004

  • capoeira the brazilian martial art

  • childhood obesity

  • choosing a self defense martial arts school a parents guide

  • choosing the right martial art

  • choosing the right self defense class

  • creatine is just more than a supplement

  • de mystifying fly fishing

  • diet and exercising for weight loss

  • early days of british aikido

  • eden rocks shore dives in grand cayman

  • examining martial arts styles

  • exercise personalities whats your type

  • fitness in five minutes a day

  • five things you dont and should know about stress

  • florida state university study prompts humane self defense training class

  • fun games for children training in martial arts

  • health is your greatest asset

  • herbal plasters and ointments used for pain relief

  • high energy food

  • history and fundamentals of karate

  • how to choose a martial arts school

  • how to choose a self defense product

  • how to defend against a knife dont use the stuff taught in the dojo

  • how to eat all you want and still lose weight

  • how to empower yourself with self defense

  • how to get certified in scuba diving

  • how to keep yourself fit on vacations

  • index

  • is aikido a martial art

  • is aikido a martial art part 1

  • is aikido a martial art part 2

  • is aikido a martial art part 3

  • is aikido a martial art part one

  • is aikido a martial art part three conclusion

  • is aikido a martial art part two

  • is a treadmill the right exercise equipment for you

  • jujitsu history philosophy and methods

  • karate a history

  • kendo a summary

  • kendo dojos

  • kenshiro abbe sensei 50th celebration

  • kenshiro abbe sensie 50th celebrations

  • kick your body into 2nd gear in 3 easy steps

  • kung fu history and basic principles

  • learn about krav maga israels secret martial art

  • l carnitine deficiency

  • martial arts and the bible

  • martial arts in each season nature in training

  • martial arts mind body and spirit presented online

  • martial arts webmasters time to optimize your site

  • martial training as a timeless portal

  • my top 15 non traditional muscle building fat scorching workouts

  • newest martial arts study today

  • new book positive aikido

  • oriental herbal plasters and ointments for pain relief

  • physical fitness is your workout missing something

  • pilates exercise more than just a core workout

  • positive aikido

  • positive aikido part one

  • positive aikido part two

  • positive aikido the book

  • proprioceptive training a key to sports success

  • reasons to join a martial arts class

  • rebounding to better health

  • reflex speed for tennis martial arts basketball

  • rotator

  • safety awareness self defense circle of safety

  • scuba dive the florida keys

  • scuba diving at grand cayman islands stingray city

  • self protective strategies yield positive outcome

  • strategy as applied to warrior citizens

  • stress elimination

  • tae kwon do is great for all ages

  • tai chi for the masses and others

  • targeting your balance for better workouts

  • tatami flooring for yoga martial arts and judo schools

  • tennis humor the gift of making people laugh at the game of tennis

  • the 7 keys to martial arts speed

  • the aikido biography of sensei henry ellis

  • the aikido biography of sensei henry ellis 5th dan

  • the bao way offer fitness and self defense

  • the benefits of martial arts training

  • the best long running las vegas shows

  • the best martial art

  • the biography of sensei derek eastman part 1 of 2

  • the biography of sensei derek eastman part 2 of 2

  • the british aikido board national nepotism seminar

  • the degradation of fitness science one example

  • the difference between karate and tae kwon do

  • the great british aikido controversy

  • the history of darts

  • the history of kali and escrima

  • the kenshiro abbe 50th celebrations

  • the kenshiro abbe 50th celebration event

  • the martial arts and self defense emotional response and reaction

  • the origins of ti chi

  • the plight of industrialized man

  • the reality factor

  • the relationship between yoga meditation and self hypnosis

  • the secrets of martial arts exposed

  • the spread of submission fighting techniques

  • training traditional martial arts

  • traveling with scuba dive gear and equipment

  • weight loss customize personalize spice up

  • what are board shorts the new bermudas

  • what are hard style and soft style martial arts

  • what the heck is an exercise modality and why should i care

  • where to get your martial arts and self defense equipment

  • which boxing gloves will you buy

  • women in the martial arts

  • yoga teachers prepare for the new years rush part 1

  • yoga teachers prepare for the new years rush part 3

  • your first chair yoga class in a senior center

  • youth sports goal settings

  • you have to try this workout