Within most general fitness and exercise systems are specific training programs for various important systems of the body. The most important one, of course, is the cardiovascular system-the heart and lungs that work together to take oxygen from the air and pump it around to the body’s cells through the bloodstream.
When fitness trainers and coaches talk about cardiovascular training, they mean exercises that both put a demand on the heart and lungs to oxygenate more and more blood for longer and longer periods of time, and increase those organs’ capacities for further increases. The prime “cardio” exercises, then, are jogging, running, walking, hiking, dancing and swimming.
A matter of balance
Also called “aerobic exercise,” this kind of training is important in any sensible and balanced exercise program. The list of benefits from cardiovascular training is lengthy and impressive, including gains in muscle and strength, loss of fat, a decrease in anxiety and depression, increased energy and a greater sense of wellbeing.
In addition, these exercises also increase the level of HDL (good) cholesterol, lower blood pressure, improve the immune system and help protect the body against cardiovascular diseases, stroke, hypertension, diabetes and osteoporosis. The exact mechanisms by which all these things occur are not fully understood, but clearly there is a strong correlation between and among awareness, action and (gradual) improvement.
Good now, good later
Some benefits of cardio exercise are almost immediate, some take a little time and others will contribute to a longer-term improvement in some of your major systems. The healthier you are now, and the longer you keep following a sensible plan, the better it will be for your present as well as your future.
In fact, a growing body of research indicates that cardiovascular training increases longevity. A study of 17,000 male alumni of Harvard University between the ages of 35 and 74 shows that as the physical activity level increased, the death rate dropped. More dramatically, those who followed a schedule of moderate exercises such as tennis, swimming, jogging or brisk walking lowered their overall mortality rate by 25-33%. Clearly, there are major benefits to be derived from cardio workouts, not even counting how much better people feel about themselves when they start getting in shape after years of inactivity.
Serving the “whole you”
Over the last several decades many vague terms were bandied about by both medical professionals and quacks alike. The terms “holistic” and “wholistic,” when applied to health care, do not have to have any supernatural or “new age” components to make sense. Of course the “whole person” needs to be considered when any exercise or medical treatment is contemplated. All this says is that our systems are interactive and interdependent. No great discovery there.
However, it is a good thing to keep in mind, this “whole person” metaphor, since you do need to be in balance vis-à-vis exercise, diet, check-ups and other aspects of total health care. The body and the mind affect each other quite powerfully. As it turns out, then, cardiovascular training is not just good for the heart or the lungs or the muscles, but for your heart, and soul and mind!
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