Types of Physical Activities

Aerobic physical activities are those activities that require an increase of oxygen consumption (inhaling more air). Hence the name “aerobic”, which means “involving oxygen.”

Aerobic activities stimulate your cardiovascular and respiratory system, making your heart and lungs work harder. That's why they can also be referred to as “cardio” activities. This type of activities may help you to:

• burn excess calories;
• strengthen your heart and normalize blood pressure;
• regulate certain hormones and control stress, improve sleep habits and sex life; 
• and much more.

During aerobic activities, you will breathe faster or take deeper breaths. Your heart rate will also go up. You should be able to sustain this type of activity for a prolonged period of time (for more than 5 minutes).

Good examples of aerobic activities are walking, jogging, swimming, jumping rope, rowing, etc.

Strength-building activities are those activities that usually require short bursts of large amounts of energy. Typically, if you can’t do this activity for more than a couple of minutes without resting, you are involved in a muscle-strengthening activity. Think of pushing or picking up something heavy. 

Examples of strength-improving activities are lifting weights, working with resistance bands, performing bodyweight exercises, such as pull-ups, etc. 

If compared to aerobic activities, this type of activities cannot be sustained for long periods of time without having to rest in order to restore energy.

This type of activities will: 

• help improve body composition and metabolism; 
• strengthen bones, connective tissues, such as tendons and ligaments; 
• protect your body from injuries and enhance the overall quality of life.