What’s the Best Kind of Exercise?

When my oldest son, now 21, asked me years ago who would win a fight between a boxer, a wrestler and a martial artist, I answered something like this:

“Depends on how far away they are from each other.”

I know it sounds like a copout, but it’s truly apples and oranges, except for some very specific parameters, in my opinion.

All things being equal, as a person with experience boxing, very little with martial arts and none with wrestling, I wouldn’t want to be far enough from a martial artist to get caught with a full-steam kick before I got off a punch, or leave my jab hanging out long enough for a wrestler to get a hold of my wrist with the plan of taking me off my feet – also the source of leverage for punching.

But the truth is all things are NOT equal. Fighters gravitate toward to disciplines and individual styles that suit them, and the ones who are serious get very good at fighting. So here’s my advice: Don’t pick a fight with a fighter. Simple, right?

So what the heck does this all have to do with fitness?

Well, the corollary in exercise terms is what’s best between aerobic exercise, strength training, Pilates, yoga, Zumba, Tai chi or any of an endless number of sports?

Here’s the short answer: Resistance training is best for building strength; aerobic exercise is best for building stamina; Pilates is best for building core stability; Yoga is best for flexibility, isometric or static strength and for relieving stress for those who prefer a more meditative, calming activity.

Obviously sports-specific training in your sport of choice is the best for developing those particular skills.

But nobody can do everything, right? So what should you do?

What do you want to accomplish? If you enjoy the peace of mind and spiritual aspect as well as the balance of range of motion and suppleness of the spine and joint connective tissue that yoga offers, it should definitely be part of your program.

Others go to the opposite end of the spectrum and want seriously aggressive activities that set their lungs on fire and make their muscles feel like jelly afterward.

But there are three principles to keep in mind if safety, balance, effectiveness and time-efficiency are concerns, and they should be:

• A combination of complementary elements is best not just for optimizing the issues addressed above, but also for avoiding burnout or injury.
• If you have a weak spot in your conditioning (strength often is the opportunity for women, stamina frequently is for men, and flexibility tends to be a weak point for both), you should address that with remedial attention, perhaps making it the focal point of your program.
• There should be an element of at least mild enjoyment, if not passion, associated with your physical activities of choice.

A student in my corporate multi-format class, who is around my age and seriously fit, combines martial arts, yoga and attending my class twice weekly.

My own program includes a cross training activity like boxing or racquetball, twice-weekly strength training, short high intensity cardio circuits, Pilates and static stretching.

I’m not as strong as a bodybuilder but I’m stronger than most people who only run; and my cardio threshold is much higher than most folks who only lift weights. But most importantly, I feel very balanced and generally energetic, vital and robust.

One final word on what to do and what not to do: Generally speaking, sports-specific training like basketball or tennis is not adequate for an optimal level of conditioning. The current prevailing wisdom in fitness circles is that a balanced general fitness program provides a critical foundation for the best performance in nearly any sport.

So think about what you’re missing and get to it!

Want more useful information on how to eat well and get in shape? Contact Dan at http://trivalleywellness.com/