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Aerobics and anaerobic exercises

Introduction

Aerobics classes are a specialised form of exercise aimed at strengthening the body's cardiovascular system without overly stressing any particular part of the body. Aerobics involves a lot of bodily movement (of course), but the movement is designed to be not overly repetitive. As such, aerobics often involves a lot of specialised choreography, which is intimidating to beginners.

Nonetheless, aerobics is an attractive form of exercise. Women like it because aerobics classes burn calories and doesn't lead to grotesque musculature. Men (probably) like it because aerobics classes contain lots of women.

The Definition of Aerobics Exercise

There are two major categories of exercise: aerobics1 and anaerobic2. These are based on two forms of chemical reaction that produce energy within the human body - one form requiring oxygen, one not. The aerobics form that requires oxygen includes all casual activity as well as all activity that doesn't exhaust the muscles.

Anaerobic exercise is the opposite of aerobic exercise. (Well, actually, no exercise is the opposite of aerobics exercise, but hopefully you get the idea.) It occurs when a part of the body's muscle tissue runs out of oxygen stores during exertion. The lack of oxygen exhausts and slightly tears apart the muscles, forcing them to rebuild with more mass. Weight lifting is an example of anaerobic exercise. As may be imagined, aerobics exercise is a prerequisite for anaerobic exercise. You have to burn the oxygen, before you can run out of it.

The body's cardiovascular system consists of the lungs, heart and veins. These are the body parts which get oxygen to the muscles. The better the cardiovascular system works, the longer the body can last before it has to draw on anaerobic energy reserves. Aerobics exercise is meant to reinforce this system, thereby enhancing the body's endurance.

The usefulness of aerobic vs anaerobic exercise is debated. Anaerobic reactions are better for building strength, but aerobic reactions release ten times as much chemical energy. Really, it depends on what you want from your exercise. To put it as simply as possible: for strength, go anaerobic; for endurance, go aerobics.

Kinds of Aerobics Exercise

There are two major kinds of aerobic exercise offered in classes.

Step aerobics uses a step or riser to stress the leg muscles somewhat. The step is roughly four feet long by two feet wide by six inches high. Risers can make it up to one foot tall.

Floor aerobics involves moving around on the ground. It's usually titled something like 'Cardio Challenge' to make it sound more exciting.

In recent years, step aerobics has been more popular than floor exercises. This is largely because step aerobics classes can play slower music and get the same cardiovascular benefit. Plus, step aerobics actually involves 'work' by the muscles in the gravitational sense. Many gyms now offer only step aerobics, not floor.

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