Women's bodies are different from men's. Men
are certainly hyper aware that women's bodies
are different from their own! And when we look
at the differences between men and women's bodies,
both genders tend to turn to each other and
say, "thank God."
But the "fun" aspects of those
differences is only one consideration that
we have to reflect upon concerning the physical
differences between the genders. Those differences
also mean that by nature exercises for women
must be different than exercises for men.
A woman's body has an entirely different orientation
than a man's body. The center of balance is
lower, the sense of balance is different and
the way women walk, sit and stand are all
different because of the entirely different
shape each gender is supporting.
Exercises for women must, for example, provide
support for the bust line. That means that
strength training that focuses on the upper
back, the shoulders and the biceps will go
a long way toward providing support in adult
life when the bust will create an ongoing
gravitational pull on the front of your body,
particularly is you are well endowed in that
area.
Men tend to use weight training more than
women no doubt because they enjoy "bulking
up" in the chest and arm muscle groups
in particular. But weight training can have
a priority place in a program of exercises
for women as well. Workouts that focus on
muscle tone and improving strength and performance
of abdominal muscles will counter the natural
loss of that tone most women experience as
they age.
One big physical event that women must prepare
for that will never be a concern for a man's
exercise program is pregnancy. As much as
we would like to pass this duty over to the
males if possible, women are built for this
important task. But women must also support
the muscle groups particularly of the abdominal
and back muscles as they prepare for and go
through pregnancy to assure that the entire
process is given the best possible physical
support you can give it.
Women also age differently than men. This
is also not a big breakthrough to learn but
how to cope with it should be an area of thought
and preparation so you can sail through menopause
and aging with fewer problems. Good diet and
exercise habits will keep you fit much longer
and postpone muscle and bone deterioration
and other chronic physical problems many aging
women endure.
The time to prepare for these big changes
in your life is not when they are upon you
but early in life. If you can put a regular
and well rounded program of physical exercise
and health conscious diet into effect in your
daily routine early in your adult life, it
will pay big dividends through every stage
of life. You will a healthier, happier and
more productive life of a wife, mother and
even grandma if you implement a health conscious
lifestyle now and keep it going through all
the changes up ahead.
