| Step aerobics used to be very popular some time | | | | This form of exercise certainly provides aerobic |
| back. Are you still doing it? If you are I don't | | | | exercise that improves your fitness, strengthen |
| suppose you have done it for many years. To | | | | your heart and make you less likely to suffer |
| some it was a civilised alternative to straight | | | | heart disease. There is some evidence to suggest |
| aerobics dancing. | | | | that it increases your 'good' cholesterol while |
| Step aerobics is based on stepping up and down | | | | reducing overall cholesterol levels. However, one |
| on a platform, in time to music of course. It can | | | | eight-week study of a group of women who did |
| be good fun, and is good for the leg muscles and | | | | step aerobics showed many positive benefits, but |
| to get some aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise is | | | | did not affect their weight. Don't expect step |
| when your body works hard enough to raise the | | | | aerobics alone to reduce your weight - you will |
| heart beat by 40 per cent or so. | | | | need to eat less, better food. |
| You use a platform about 30 inches by 15 inches | | | | Is step aerobics really good for you? |
| and four to twelve inches high, according to your | | | | Like jogging, though, step aerobics has its |
| level of fitness. First, you step on to the platform | | | | detractors. Why? Well, because in doing all that |
| landing at a particular point, with one foot, then | | | | stepping up on a block you are straining your |
| bring the other foot up alongside. Then you step | | | | knee joints which are very delicate. In fact if you |
| down to a different place with your feet in turn. | | | | work too hard at you can damage your joints. |
| There are many different movements you can | | | | If you are young and healthy, step aerobics is |
| do to make it more interesting, but you always | | | | probably OK. But if you are overweight and |
| have to lift your body up to get on the step. | | | | middle aged, it is definitely not a good idea. |
| More vigorous exercise than aerobic dancing | | | | In fact, the old fashioned aerobic exercises like |
| Proponents point out that it is simpler than aerobic | | | | swimming, vigorous hill walking and cycling or roller |
| dancing, and that you don't have to learn many | | | | skating are probably the best forms of aerobic |
| movements. It is more vigorous than aerobic | | | | exercise. We could add a new one - power |
| dancing, because you have to lift your body | | | | walking - but you need to power along. Also, |
| weight up instead of just moving it around. How | | | | there is no doubt that to build muscle you need |
| vigorous it is depends on the instructor. | | | | some form of resistance training. |