Sex. Gender need not influence your choice of exercise or sports, although in some cases it will affect the degree of excellence you will be able to achieve. Males are taller, with longer limbs, have broader shoulders and stronger arms, which aid in throwing and hitting skills. But they carry more weight on a higher center of gravity, which can be a disadvantage in upright, endurance sports such as running.
Women have greater body-fat stores, which provide buoyancy, insulation, and energy reserves for swimming and distance running. Woman are already bettering the men's Olympic records in swimming and are narrowing the sex gap in distance running. Finally, neither menstrual cycle nor pregnancy need keep a woman from exercising.
Personality. Gregarious, extroverted people need company and will do well in a social, competitive sport like tennis. Romantics and artists will be able to stick with a skill or form of sport like swimming, figure skating, or skiing where a technique can be perfected. The type A personality - competitive, aggressive, hostile - however, is warned against competitive or social sports. Type A tensions and drive are better eased in solitary, rhythmical activities such as jogging, swimming, or skating.
Handicaps. For those suffering from arthritis or hear condition, exercise is sometimes recommended by physicians as therapy. Unless their condition is acute, arthritis can find relief in water sports, and many cardiac patients can bring their functional capacity back to normal under and exercise program prescribed by a doctor. Even impaired vision or loss of limb need not be deterrent. Although the choice of sports maybe somewhat limited for the handicapped person, the ability to perform is not; the handicapped have excelled in many fields. Even temporary handicaps - muscle strains, blisters - need not interfere. Runners with leg problems can switch to swimming or biking.
Life-style. Your type of work, where you live, the time of day you witch to devote to exercise, the availability of facilities and partners or opponents, the expense - all these must be taken into account in designing your fitness program.
City dwellers may find facilities for many sports but should examine them first. City tennis courts may be cement, have no nets, or be in constant use for handball. Under such adverse conditions, it is difficult to muster enthusiasm or avoid injury.
In any case, don't take up an exercise "because it's in vogue". Select the exercise you will enjoy, so that you will not easily tire of it.
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JANUARY 10
