Essay 3 Presentation
Swing Into Exercise! Managing Bipolar Disorder with Aerobic Exercise
Years of depression. Years of anxiety and irritability. Damaged family relationships. Poor decisions. Nervous breakdowns. In-patient hospitalizations. Over dozens of different medications. Counseling for years. As I’ve struggled with Bipolar Disorder since I was a child, my main focus in life was just being able to function “like a normal person”. In recent years, I found a little bit of that “normalcy” as I’ve participated in aerobic exercise. I felt that it would be interesting to research the positive effects of aerobic exercise as it is used as part of a bipolar treatment plan. I also wanted to share my experience as someone who struggles daily with this illness and my unending quest to find more relief in addition to medication and counseling. My thesis for Essay 3 was written for those with Bipolar Disorder who are searching to decrease their symptoms of anxiety and depression. My thesis states that aerobic exercise is the best type of exercise for the disorder.
My researched essay is based on several academic studies (one being the first study to examine the therapeutic effects of physical activity in Bipolar Disorder), professional recommendations, numerous online articles and my own experience. Prior to beginning my research, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to write about – but I didn’t feel like I had formed an adequate argument. It was while I was writing my blog for Week 7 that I began to see what I wanted to share and I knew that I could only benefit from further exploration of how aerobic exercise affects bipolar. My thesis became much clearer after I had written my proposal and discovered that I wanted to promote aerobic exercise as the best type of exercise to help manage bipolar.
After I received the feedback of my draft, I realized that my essay needed much more organization. The most important thing I’ve learned during this essay was that I needed apply the “shish kebob” metaphor of making sure my thesis penetrated every paragraph like a skewer in a shish kebob. During my revision I realized that I had many unsupported points in my essay so I removed them and restructured the paragraphs. I had SEVERAL drafts that I worked on, making sure that I got it “just right”. It was an overall painful, but valuable growth experience - but as it’s said in the world of fitness, “No pain, no gain.”
As a Group Fitness Instructor, I’ve learned to love exercise. Now I realize it’s absolutely necessary for me to cope with my symptoms. I’ve taught several different types of exercise classes – step and floor aerobics, body sculpting, yoga, Stroller-Fit, Aquacize, boot-camp cardio and kickboxing. But I’ve found in the last year that I love teaching and participating in Zumba. It’s the latest dance-fitness craze swarming the nation and I am proud to be one of the first instructors to share it in the
Toledo area. I teach 5 days a week and it’s been extremely fun and life-changing! I have THE most important source of the positive effects aerobic exercise has in managing the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder…myself! I’m finally, after all these years, feeling the much needed relief from my bipolar symptoms.
I have included a recently aired video segment from WTOL Channel 11 of myself teaching a Zumba class at the YMCA/JCC in
Sylvania for the contestants of the Weigh-In To Win program sponsored by Weight Watchers. I’ve also included a recent article (featuring me and my class at Lifestyles for Ladies) printed in the Toledo Free Press. Hope you enjoy and feel inspired to try Zumba yourself!
WTOL Channel 11 segment:
Toledo Free Press Article:
http://www.toledofreepress.com/?id=7521
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April 18th, 2008 @ 9:09 am
I think it is wonderful that you are giving those with Bipolar Disorder an additional outlet (in addition to medication that is) to help decrease their symptoms. And, it is outstanding that in this presentation you share your own experience and how exercise has helped you.
Also, the videos are inspiring, and the article you included gives excellent reasons to begin exercising (and Zumba in particular). It sounds like a great workout and I believe that it will continue to gain popularity.