Contents

The following posts are a series of messages using different methods in order to spark the interest of readers to take up exercise in their daily lives. The posts cover in this order from top to bottom.

-Two examples of credible sources trying to communicate the importance of exercise.
-A message on subliminal persuasion techniques used in order to make people think of exercise often
-A self made message using the classical conditioning technique of repetition.
-A series of images depicting exercise as fun or attractive by using appealing images or celebrities partaking in physical activity
-Informational background on the relationship between exercise and technology

Helpful Advice from a Reliable Source

The Surgeon General released the following report which is an extensive study of bone health in the human body. The featured chapter includes many studies of how physical activities aid in maintaining stronger bones. There are also sections discussing the importance of children exercising before they reach puberty.

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/bonehealth/docs/Chapter_6.pdf

Yet Even More Helpful Information

The American Medical association has an abundance of information on the positive effects of exercise. There are many mysteries in the field of medical study, but one thing is for certain: Exercise is good for everybody.

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/433/healthy-lifestyles-july2010.pdf

Subliminal Persuasion

Using the theory of subliminal persuasion, I would promote exercise using any image in a commercial, advertisement or anything else visual and put some sign of physical exercise and fitness in the background. This could be someone jogging or swimming or doing yoga. Anything that may stick in the mind as an act of physical fitness. This would hopefully spark people's mind to be familiar with the image of exercise and hopefully adopt this notion.

Classical Conditioning Techniques.

The following is an example of an ad or message that uses the classical conditioning techniques of intensity and repetition. There is a very intense image of someone working tremendously hard followed by the word exercise printed so many times its almost hypnotising.

Exercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise ExerciseExercise Exercise

Classical Conditioning Techniques Cont'd

These images present exercise in a pleasant way making it seem fun and friendly. The interaction between the two people attempts to make people think that getting to the gym will lead to meeting new people.


Exercise can be a lot of fun and can also lead to... making new friends

Classical Conditioning Techniques Cont'd

Another technique to promote fitness and exercise is to show famous celebrities in the middle of a workout. This may cause people to believe that if they exercise they can also look as good as the movie stars do.




Celebrities can go to great lengths to maintain their image, and many times that means a lot of exercise

Technologies Negative Effects on Exercise

New inventions are created to make life more convenient for us. Ever since the invention of the wheel when we learned we could roll objects instead of carry them, there have been advancements that make life easier. With this regard, technology has effected exercise in a very negative way. We become too familiar with these conveniences and they become the norm. In essence we have become a lazy society because we don't have to work for many things anymore since they are already provided for us. Even the invention of the automobile aided in this method of thinking. After cars became common, it was unnecessary to walk anywhere.

We are a generation of high speed internet and instant gratification. Physical exercise is considered by most to be work, because it doesn't come to us as easily as many things do in our world today.

Positive Effects Technology Has Had on Exercise

Although exercise for physical health and fitness purposes is not a new concept, there are constantly new inventions and advancements in technology that serve to help making exercise fore effective. To prove this point you should turn on any television and wait about four minutes because you will probably see an ad for either some new exercise machine or some new diet and exercise regiment. This is a series of technologies bringing exercise to people. First of all, the technology of television allows us to see what new inventions are out there, which allows us easier access to those inventions. And then there's the inventions themselves, which are always becoming more advanced and try to make exercises more effective and sometimes more fun. These inventions, just to name a few include: The treadmill, The Stairmaster, The Bowflex, The Ab Roller, and the ever impressive Shake Weight.

Another innovative approach is the idea of turning exercise into a game. The best example of technology attempting to make exercise fun is the Wii Fit Program. This is a series of balance and movement based exercises using the Nintendo Wii video game system and a small board that a person stands on to do these activities. The point is to make the activities fun so you don't realize it's exercise. It is debatable whether this system will cause you to lose significant weight and you definitely won't win a Mr. Universe trophy, but it is a clear attempt to get people on their feet and become more active.

Our world of fitness is being changed even by video games. There have been so many new inventions in recent years alone that have changed how we think about exercise.

The Origins of Exercise and Technology

The importance of exercise is an obvious concept. We exercise because we want to be healthy or we want to get stronger or we want to look good and feel good. Throughout man's history physical exercise has been a prevalent notion. Even primitive man had exercise when he would have to make his own food or shelter only by using the tools provided by his own body. Man's exercise was provided by the need to survive.

And in man's history there have always been advancements in technology that have changed the amount of exercise that is necessary to survive. For instance, once humans domesticated animals, many jobs such as providing food or labor like plowing crops or hatching eggs were provided by an outside source. This may not be necessarily technology, but it is an advancement that provided man with the opportunity that he no longer had to physically do these challenges on his own. this is a very primitive example of technology and its effects on exercise.

Health and exercise is a growing problem in our modern world. This problem can be blamed on both social inefficiencies as well as advancements made in technology. It is clear that in more recent history, technology has made many advancements that have effected exercise and fitness in both negative and positive ways.