Adrienne Williams, CEO of A.S.C.R. FITNESS, teaches Xtreme Hip-Hop STEP classes in Leesburg and says cardiovascular activity has helped her and her students gain confidence and make healthier decisions.
Williams not only finds that daily exercise makes ordinary tasks simpler to do, but she also finds that committing a few hours a day to physical activity is her greatest stress reliever.
“The way exercise has helped me improve my life is that it’s an outlet that helps me with stress,” Williams said. “After that is the physical benefits like mobility and flexibility. We have so many negative things going on throughout the day that having a positive outlet — even when it a challenging — is vital.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, cardiovascular exercise occurs when the body regularly exercises big muscles in the arms, legs and hips, increasing heart rate and respiration. This increases the level of oxygen in the blood and aids in the optimal use of oxygen.
When an individual’s aerobic capacity is great, their heart, lungs and blood vessels smoothly and efficiently distribute huge amounts of oxygen throughout the body, causing them to feel energetic. Consistent cardiovascular exercise can improve someone’s aerobic capacity.
Cardio can boost stamina and endurance, as well as make daily chores easier to do, regardless of age. According to the Mayo Clinic, cardiac benefits include strengthening the heart and muscles, burning calories, controlling hunger, reducing joint stiffness and preventing or managing high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, increased blood flow from cardiac activity benefits the brain by lowering the risk of stroke. Other advantages include increased memory and thinking capacity, protection against Alzheimer’s disease and countering age-related brain dysfunction.
The cardio activity also boosts someone’s happiness by releasing endorphins, which are feel-good chemicals released by the brain, according to the Mayo Clinic. Another advantage is that you’ll have more energy throughout the day and have a better night’s sleep.
Earth aerobic programs, according to Williams, foster camaraderie because everyone is striving for the same goal: to stay aggressive and enhance their cardiovascular health.
“(My students) have built relationships because there’s something about being together working through something tough like cardio exercise,” Williams said.
Williams instructs at the Rogers Park Pavilion, 610 S. 9th St., Leesburg, on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. She also trains at Lake Square Mall, 10401 US Highway 441, Leesburg, on the 2nd and 3rd Saturdays at 11 a.m.
