9781422287026

Make Connections: Aerobic The term aerobic literally means “with oxygen.” Extra oxygen is needed to keep the body moving under the stress of aerobic exer- cises, which forces the heart and lungs to work very hard. Over time, aerobic exercise will improve cardiovascular endurance.

shape. Step aerobics and aerobic dance are two examples of ex- ercises created for this very purpose. They were intended to make people feel excited about exercising on a regular basis. This approach to exercise has caused step aerobics and aerobic dance to become very successful. AEROBIC EXERCISE Exercising has evolved a lot over the years. Every exercise had dif- ferent benefits, and people were slowly figuring out what they were. Medical researchers discovered that forcing the body as a whole to work longer and harder than it usually does increases the resilience of the cardiovascular system (your heart and blood vessels). The heart and lungs are strengthened during cardiovascular exercise, leading to a decreased risk of heart disease. Dr. Kenneth Cooper was one of the many people who understood the importance of strengthening the heart and lungs through repeated exercise. He created the term “aerobics” in 1963, and he even wrote a book about its many benefits. Over thirty million copies of that book have been sold, causing it to become one of the most popular books about the importance of physical fitness. Since then, plenty of aerobic exercises have been created and refined over the years. Running, bicycling, and swimming are among the most basic of

11

What Are Step Aerobics and Aerobic Dance?