JUMPING, RUNNING, HOPPING, OH MY!

High impact aerobics--where both feet leave the ground--has it’s ups and downs. It creates a hostile environment for fat and calories and the rush of endorphins you feel, after such a workout, is unmatched. It's also been linked to increasing bone density (sounds good for an aging girl). In spite the obvious ups, this type of activity can wreak havoc on the joints. Think about it. When you jump, run, or hop, your joints take the force of your body weight, when you come down.

P90X, Chalean Extreme, Turbo Jam and the upcoming Insanity all include high impact aerobics. Each workout (with the exception of Insanity) includes a low impact option. I used to think I had to complete the workout exactly as the instructor taught it. If I followed the modification, I was not getting the full benefit. I was dead wrong—that is not true!! There is no shame in a modification—its pretty smart to modify an exercise if the need arises. Low impact aerobics is not a synonym for low intensity.

Over the past couple months, I’ve noticed increased joint pain in my knees and unexplained nagging pain in my lower back and hips. I feel out of alignment. I can’t attribute these ailments to high impact aerobics per se but I can say because of these aches and pains, I have to modify some of the moves--and sometimes I’m not in the mood to have my wiggly parts wiggling--so I keep my feet on the ground.

At 37, my body reminds me I’m no spring chicken. I respond to those reminders by taking Beachbody’s Joint Formula to help soothe my squeaks, seeing a chiropractor to twist, pull, pop, and crack my body back as it should be, and dare I say…. performing yoga.I’ve got one body and I must take care of it.

Our bodies are marvelous machines--even still it breaks down from time to time--know your strengths and weaknesses and work within your parameters to avoid injury and protect your overall health.