GET A LIFE

New term, new you

An active body leads to an active mind

Story by Kelly May

It�s back into action now that the new term is well underway. But as you are exercising your brain in the classroom, don�t forget your body needs some exercise too.

Exercise is an important part of any healthy lifestyle and needn�t be something that you dread. For those of you that are self-confessed couch potatoes and hate sport, your time is up. With gyms and fitness centres springing up all over the country, there is no excuse not to do some physical activity.

According to Ian Edmondson, a top physical trainer at the Bangkok-based Fitness First, a growing number of Thais are joining gyms, not to pump weights, but to join in the growing number of fitness classes on offer. �Our gym alone offers, body combat (aerobics combined with martial arts), body pump (aerobics using weights, jazzercise (modern dance) and other classes that make exercise fun and enjoyable. Group classes have become a great way to get into shape, meet new people and make friends,� he said.

Group classes lack the competitiveness of sport that may discourage shy people from joining in. Pressure to succeed and to play well needn�t stop people leading a healthy lifestyle. �Only the instructor is the centre of attention in the group class and it doesn�t matter if you make a mistake. Exercise doesn�t have to be intimidating or painful,� Ian smiled.

healthy body, healthy mind

The benefits of exercise are numerous, both physically and emotionally. �Once you are exercising regularly, your heart becomes more efficient at its job, beating at a lower frequency to circulate oxygen around your body. Your energy levels also increase and you will feel livelier. You�ll feel good on the inside and on the outside,�said Ian.

Gyms offer a safe environment for teenagers to hang out, away from the streets and boredom. Aiming to achieve goals, whether weight loss, toning, increased flexibility or increased strength, gyms help you to stick to an exercise programme and not give up.

The results aren�t instant, but with guidance and a desire to succeed, anything is possible. As Ian explains, �An active body, is an active mind and this can be achieved by making small changes in your lifestyle.�

VOCABULARY

active (adj): always busy doing things, especially physical activities
dread (v): very afraid of something; to fear that something bad is going to happen
couch potato (n): person who spends a lot of time sitting and watching television
spring up (v): appear or develop quickly and/or suddenly
competitiveness (n): used to describe a situation in which people or organisations compete against each other
discourage (v): try to prevent something or to prevent somebody from doing something, especially by making it difficult to do or by showing that you do not approve of it
intimidating (adj): frightening in a way which makes a person feel less confident
lively (adj): full of life and energy; active and enthusiastic