No Pain, No Gain? The Benefits of Unconventional Exercise Pursuits

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD There is a curious American sentiment toward exercise that celebrates the mantra of "no pain, no gain." When exercise isn't followed by soreness, or when a sufficient amount of sweat hasn't been produced, participants are often led to believe that their efforts have been wasted. But is this notion actually valid, and do clinicians benefit their patients in advocating for standard exercise programs by extension? Furthermore, are there any lessons to be learned from physical therapy as a baseline for exercise programming? From the floors of Omnia Education's Women's Health Annual Visit in New York, Dr. Matt Birnholz speaks with Anne Koller, certified fitness professional and staff member of Aqua Studio, NY. Aqua is the first boutique studio specializing in the unique fitness pursuit of "aquacycling," a high intensity underwater cycling program. The two discuss trends in American exercise preferences at various ages, and how alternative experiences with fitness activities can help reset expectations as to how we define being "in shape."