Discover simple exercises and stretches that will improve your health and well-being. Our bodies are designed for movement. Vigorous movement helps to lubricate our joints and sweat out toxins. It generates a state of well-being, which alleviates stress and anxiety, and enhances the body's immune system. And it keeps weight gain in check and lowers the risk of developing chronic diseases as we get older, such as diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and high blood pressure. Poor health does not have to be an inevitable consequence of ageing. Regular exercise lets you feel better and live longer. And you can use exercise to target specific health conditions. Here, Debra Daley looks at more than 50 common health conditions and shows how specific exercises can help to reduce their symptoms and stave off illness. She explains why exercise benefits these conditions, which kinds of movement are best for specific ailments and how often you need to exercise to make a positive difference not only to particular health problems, but also to normal experiences such as pregnancy, sexual well-being and ageing. Also included is a directory of exercises that gives the right exercise for the right ailment.

Author Biography

Debra Daley is a health journalist. She worked for New Zealand's largest public health system for ten years, where she was editor of a community health newspaper as well as publications on mental health and on general hospital-based practice. She has also written on health for The Australian Women's Weekly, Vogue and other magazines. In her teens, Debra was a competitive athlete and has since participated regularly in many forms of recreational fitness activity. She has also been a yoga and meditation practitioner for many years.