American Fitness Offers Tips for Reducing Stress During Power Outages Caused by Storms and Hurricanes

Portland, OR (PRWEB) October 31, 2012

With superstorm Sandy impacting large sections of the Eastern United States, American Fitness has a series of tips for managing stress and anxiety during extended power outages resulting from storms, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.

Storms and other natural disasters can take a serious toll on emotional well-being. Days after the initial impact of the event, people can continue to feel stressed and uneasy. During this time, it is important for people to focus on taking care of themselves and their families. Widespread power outages can take days to return to normal, impacting regular routines. Exercise, rest, and nutrition are key tools for coping with stress and better passing the time while waiting for the lights to come back on.

Regular exercise is a key component in maintaining health, but many overlook the benefits of keeping up an exercise routine during periods of stress. Exercise is known to help reduce stress and anxiety, enabling better emotional health. It can also fight boredom while computers, phones, and other electronic devices are inoperable. If one is unable to travel to a gym due to weather, road closures, or transportation interruptions, there are many exercises that can be done at home. Many require no electricity and little to no special fitness equipment.

Bodyweight exercises are a great form of strength training that can be done almost anywhere. Examples include jumping jacks, push-ups, lunges, and sit-ups. A few household items, such as containers of milk or cans of soup, can be used as simple weight training equipment for doing bicep and tricep curls. For a cardio workout, consider jogging in place or walking up and down stairs.

Those with some type of home exercise equipment should consider putting it to use. Home gyms and free weights are excellent weight training equipment for building strength and balance. Strength training may also improve self-confidence and self-esteem, which is helpful in overcoming any feelings of depression that may accompany a natural disaster experience. Exercise bands, medicine balls, and suspension trainers are other strength training items that require no electricity for operation.

Some cardio machines can be operated without electricity, such as spin exercise bikes, some elliptical trainers, and manual treadmills. If one of these happens to be sitting in a home gathering dust, it might be a good time to give it another try.

Events such as Sandy cause enormous upset, suffering, and disruption, said Ron Thompson, President of American Fitness. We wish those affected by these events a quick recovery and encourage them to take care of themselves and their families. One step in this is making stress reduction a priority. Seek help from others if it is needed and increase self-care through exercise, relaxation, and healthy eating.

Rest and healthy eating are critical not only for reducing stress, but also maintaining good general health. During power outages, take advantage of limited artificial light by getting more sleep. Go to bed when it gets dark and wake up with the morning light. Without late night distractions from a computer or tv, it is easier to let the body relax and get needed rest. Relaxation exercises such as listening to soothing music, practicing meditation or prayer, and performing deep breathing can all be helpful. Along with this, continue to make healthy eating choices. During times of stress, the body needs a balanced diet and plenty of fresh water.

Finally, stay positive and lean on friends and family who can provide a good support network. Do not hesitate to reach out to others if additional support is required.

About American Fitness


American Fitness is a leading retailer of home and commercial fitness equipment. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, AmericanFitness.net is the chosen provider of exercise equipment for schools, hotels, public service agencies, and US military organizations across the United States and abroad. American Fitness specializes in custom gym and fitness center design using top brand cardio and weight training equipment. With a focus on service and customer satisfaction, American Fitness seeks to support individuals and organizations in achieving fit and healthy lifestyles. For more information, visit http://www.americanfitness.net.

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American Fitness Offers Tips for Reducing Stress During Power Outages Caused by Storms and Hurricanes