BLOG 2 : The Cardio Chronicles, Uncovering the sleeping Giant of fitness and longevity
At Chamber Fitness, we recognise the immense value of incorporating sustained cyclical aerobic sessions into our weekly programming. In fact, we prioritise a minimum of two sessions per week to harness the benefits of this often-overlooked aspect of training. But why exactly do we place such emphasis on aerobic exercise, and what benefits does it offer beyond just breaking a sweat?
1) It’s Sustainable:
Living in a world filled with increasing pressures, stress, and distractions, we often find ourselves teetering on the edge of our capacity, pushing our mental, emotional, and physical limits to the brink. Amidst this chaos, exercise emerges as one of the few sanctuaries where we can replenish our energy and find stability in our daily lives.
Exercise serves as a beacon of stability, offering us a chance to recharge and refocus amidst the hustle and bustle of our routines. Given this, it begs the question: Why would we subject ourselves to further stress through relentless high-intensity training on the daily?
In my view, incorporating low-intensity, sustained aerobic efforts into our weekly training regimen becomes a no-brainer. These efforts provide us with the opportunity to reap the benefits of exercise for the long haul, placing the power back into our hands by prioritising sustainable practices.
2) Heart Health and Longevity
As we age, it becomes more and more important to consider what’s going on under the hood when we set our intentions around physical activity and what it means for our longevity and the quality of our health span.
HIIT Style training has its place and intensity will always drive results, but it can also drive burnout and drive us further away from living the largest life possible. As the old saying goes “too much of something is never a good thing” and this saying couldn’t be any more true when it comes to our training habits.
If we are able to remove the bias that the only definition of a good workout is to be lost for words laying on the floor contemplating our life choices, and think about continually optimizing the function of our bodies ( heart, lungs, brain etc ), we will soon realize that much of the magic lies within this balance and the inclusion of aerobic training and sustainable efforts.
Exercise and longevity – Maturitas
3) Real world applications ( Kids / Adventures )
Life is a marathon, not a sprint and having the opportunity and freedom to express ourselves physically is a gift we should hold onto as long as we possibly can.
Whether you’re a parent who wants to say YES to every moment your son or daughter asks you to kick the footy in the backyard without losing your breath, or if you are a spontaneous soul who wants to say YES to a new challenge or adventure year after year after year, having a body that supports you is worth its weight in gold.
It’s easy to get stuck into a pattern in which we go to the gym to get good at the gym, when in fact, unless you’re a full time athlete, the gym should serve as a tool to improve life outside the gym for as long as we possibly can.
Prioritizing aerobic training offers us the best chance to turn this vision into reality. By cultivating a robust “operating system” in our bodies, we ensure we remain durable and ready to meet any challenge life throws our way.
Having 3 young boys myself, many of my goals have shifted to being as active, present and physically capable for my boys for as long as I possibly can. Structuring steady Aerobic sessions multiple times per week ( amongst resistance work ), has allowed for my goal to be a lived out reality.
Physical freedom is a true blessing, one that should never be taken for granted.
4) Recovery / Recoverability / Performance
We all love the gym, and we love the thought and feeling of progress in some way shape or form (performance, aesthetics etc)
Having a developed aerobic system allows for the window of opportunity to widen exponentially when it comes to our output and our results, here’s how:
1 ) When lifting or performing high intensity efforts, we eventually run into fatigue. Our aerobic system is the catalyst when it comes to recovering in between efforts or rounds faster, meaning you can get more work done in a quicker space of time. Whether the goal is intensity or endurance, your increased ability to recover results in a far greater performance.
2) Blood Flow is king when it comes to recovery. You may be sore or beat up from a big strength session which will inhibit your ability to express yourself physically. Instead of “pushing through” and stacking on another strength or HIIT session, opting for a low intensity aerobic biased session will move the needle back in terms of optimisation and have you feeling fresh and primed for not only your next workout, but the demands of the day that lay ahead.
Aerobic training will enhance your day, day after day.
5) Flow, mental state and cognition
While physical fitness often takes the spotlight, it’s crucial not to overlook the mental aspect of our fitness journeys. While striving for peak physical performance, why not aim for peak mental and cognitive performance as well?
Slow aerobic efforts have been shown to induce a state of “flow,” characterized by heightened focus, absorption, and enjoyment in the present moment. This flow state directly correlates with improvements in mental capacity and overall cognitive performance and energy.
In this modern age of living, we’re all our own unique version of high performers. The Demands and stressors mentally have never been greater, constantly asking so much of ourselves in every second of every day. Aerobic training offers a natural solution to combat the stressors that follow us and provides a valuable opportunity to unplug from the chaos of daily life, clear your mind and to gain perspective, mental clarity and sharpness.
In closing, I highly encourage you to invest time and effort into sustainable aerobic efforts and let the sleeping giant of fitness and longevity awaken within you. Trust in me, your future self will thank you for it.
Until then, embrace the #sustaintrain, i’ll see you in the gym !
Chief x
