Many people cringe at the thought of exercise. It is often seen as troublesome and painful. You know that it is supposed to be good for you, but sometimes it is just too much of a hassle to squeeze into your already busy schedule. But before you cast it aside, you should know how it benefits both your body and your mind.

How exercise affects you:

Regular exercise leads to a decrease in body fat and an increase in muscular tissue. When you exercise, you are working your striated, or voluntary muscle. Working these muscles increases your circulation and improves your metabolism. They also play an important role in responses to the nervous system. Cardiovascular exercise, or long workouts during which you keep the heart rate up, also work your heart and lungs. A healthy heart and lungs help to fend off illness. This conditioning helps to make everyday activities such as biking to class or carrying all of your books easier. Regular workouts have long term benefits as well. Both a decrease in body fat and a stronger heart helps prevent heart disease. Although it may not seem much of a concern right now, routine exercise makes you look and feel younger longer. For example, with exercise, your bone density increases making your skeletal system stronger and more resistant to the strain it receives.

In addition to its purely physical benefits, sports and exercise are a great way to relieve stress and release aggressions. Cardiovascular activity produces endorphins, which result in what is commonly known as a "runner's high". Although its affects may not be felt when you first begin to get in shape, your endorphin levels do increase with exercise. This is why after a hard run, you will sometimes feel as if you could do it all over again. In fact, if you undergo serious training for a long period of time, you can actually go into what could be considered depression if you suddenly quit. Your body will have become accustomed to a high endorphin level, and this level drops suddenly if you stop working out.

So you want to work out:

Now that you are all pumped up to get in shape, you don't quite know what to do. All you athletes out there obviously don't need help so keep up the good work. If you have never really exercised before then start out easy. Exercise does not have to be painful. Take a long brisk walk with a friend. Once you feel comfortable, go for a jog. The Ford Center has stationary bikes and stairmasters which you can use. You can do your reading while using them if you like. Try exercising with a friend. It may be more enjoyable and you can motivate each other. Keep your workouts varied. Have several different runs that you enjoy. Play frisbee one day, jog to the dish or go for a swim the next. You don't have to bore yourself when you exercise; there are many possibilities. Aim for at least twenty minutes of aerobic activity when you work out, because then your body starts burning fat. If this is your goal, slow down your pace and make your run a little bit longer.

There are alternatives to simply working out on you own or with a friend. Join intramurals; just find something that sounds fun and go. Check out club sports. There are plenty of them and they are a great way to get exercise on a regular basis. There are also classes for many different sports. Try a martial arts course next quarter, or maybe join an aerobics class. Arrillaga has stationary bikes and a weight room. Before you jump in and start lifting though, make sure that you know how to use the equipment properly. Most importantly, have fun. It will take a little while before you start to see the results, but remember that exercise has many benefits. It is also really important to remember not to over-exercise. Exercise can become an unhealthy obsession for some people. As with all things in life, balance is the key.

Recreational Facilities Hours:

Arrillaga: Weekdays: noon-2pm and 5:30-11pm, Weekends: noon-8pm.

Ford Center: Open til midnight.

The Balance Beam is co-sponsored by The Bridge 24-Hour Peer Counseling and Information and Referral Center (3-3392), Cowell Student Health Center, and the Publications Board.