2 Minute Toner - Weight Bearing Exercises

Ask most people why they exercise and theyll say to build muscle, but the women in this class are building something else too. Strong bones. Newburgh mom Heather Kent said, "My bones are so porous - last week I had to go for X-ray because my 2 year old just barely hit me in the chest." Heather has become her own advocate when it comes to bone health. Going through infertility, then pregnancy, bed rest and lots of estrogen loss, her bones became extremely brittle. But a class like Tri-State Athletic Clubs "Group Power" gives women like Heather the weight bearing exercises their bodies need. Instructor Kim Gourieux said, "The muscles are attached to the bone and every time you use them, especially with the weight bearing, the load is increased so much, that it stresses the bones, spurs them on to create more bones. Gourieux showed us a controlled squat. She stood with her legs shoulder width apart with the bar across her high upper back, not on her neck. And then she lowered her body into a squat position - and back up again. She varied the speed of the squats too for added stress. Kim added, "Its perfect for the beginner and an expert right next to each other because you can choose how much weight you put on your bar." Heather asked her doctor about a bone scan and shes glad she did. The results showed severe osteoporosis. Now she takes drug to slow bone loss, she gets more calcium, and she does weight bearing exercises. So shell be able play with her kids as they grow - without fear of a fracture. The good news is, your bones are like a bank account, and you can build it bones until around age 35 naturally through exercise and a proper diet. Experts say, doing weight bearing exercises twice a week has been shown to be enough to improve bone mass. The Class: Group Power Tri-State Athletic Club 555 Tennis Lane Evansville, IN 47715 (812) 479-3111 "Group Power" meets Thursdays at 9 a.m., Fridays at 8 a.m. and Fridays at 4:30 p.m.