A lifelong physical activity is any type of activity maintained throughout the major part of the individual’s lifespan. Studies show multiple benefits of appropriately organized lifelong physical activities, including not only physiological but also psychological, social and cognitive. Observing the examples of adherence to lifelong activities will help us not only to better illustrate the benefits of such lifestyle, but also to outline the main difficulties and their solutions, and inform our future involvement in the activity.
I’ve selected aerobics as an activity in question for my paper. Aerobics is among the best fitting choices for life-long activity, being both flexible enough to adjust the intensity and effective enough to provide the needed health benefits along the lifespan.
The first exemplar is the seven-year-old named Jane. She regularly attends the aerobics section and enjoys it greatly. At this age, it is a common trend, as children easily maintain their physical activities. So it is natural for Jane to effortlessly meet or even exceed her daily schedule. Of course, because of the early age, the value of maintaining such lifestyle can not yet be properly evaluated. Instead, the reason she qualifies as an exemplar at this stage is because her effort is appropriately directed. At the early age the physical exercise is crucial for physiological development, but even more important is the formation of the behavioral pattern. Studies show that early habit formation increases the chances of adherence to physical activities throughout the rest of the life. This, of course, is a result of a collective effort, and much of Jane’s habits depend on her surroundings. So in this case, her parents and teachers are equally exemplar for their contribution to promoting of a healthy lifestyle.
The second individual in question is Calvin, age 39. Calvin goes through 60-minutes aerobics program four days a week. He also enjoys hiking. When interviewing him, I was primarily interested in difficulties he faces organizing his schedule, as well as his motivations and goals. The reason for this is statistical data: according to it, the main reason for failing to maintain long-term physical activities is the inability to organize the schedule as adult life introduces more barriers. Other factors suggested by psychologists are wrongly set goals and motivations, with most people perceiving workout as a means to shape up quickly and be done with it. Calvin, on the other hand, suggests viewing aerobics as a permanent way of life. He also states he has absolutely no difficulty managing his time, as long as it becomes a habit. This goes in line with our first exemplar, as in Calvin’s case his adherence to aerobics goes as far as the elementary school. The reasons to exemplify Calvin’s case are his determination and motivation. His case also illustrates the importance of persistence and early start of the lifelong activities.
Finally, the third case is Sarah, age 67. Sarah has been into aerobics since 14, and into swimming since around the same age. She exercises regularly and boasts an excellent physical shape and health. According to her testimony, she has “never went to a doctor with a serious complaint.” So not only does she exhibit a perfect case of devotion to the lifelong activities, but also an exceptional example of health benefits of such lifestyle. Of course, I can only rely on her personal testimony and visual clues, but these two factors demonstrate impressive results. The obesity and cardiovascular disease, which are among the most widespread health issues in the US, as well as stress, another common complaint, are all completely absent from Sarah’s life. The same goes for age-specific ailments, like bone and joint disorders. So, Sarah exemplifies the benefits of long-term activities and illustrates the reason, rather than the guidelines, for future involvement in aerobics.
To sum up, the three exemplars illustrate the suggested approach to organization, motivation and promotion of life-long physical activities and give insight into the benefits it can provide.