Course Overview

This comprehensive fitness course educates you on the physiological responses of your body to various exercises and includes 12 workouts designed by a renowned fitness expert. Discover the essential link between fitness and nutrition and how they contribute to a long and healthy life.

Led by Professor Michael Ormsbee, this course combines scientific principles with practical applications to enhance your overall fitness journey. Whether your aim is to run a marathon or simply improve your daily activities, this course provides the knowledge and techniques necessary to achieve your goals.

Course Lessons

1. Components of Fitness

Explore the life-enhancing value of fitness and understand the health-related components that contribute to overall well-being.

Duration: 36 min

2. How Fit Are You?

Learn about fitness testing methods and set benchmarks to monitor your progress while performing at-home tests.

Duration: 28 min

3. Overcome the Barriers to Exercise

Examine obstacles to exercise and learn strategies for overcoming them, including motivation and goal setting.

Duration: 32 min

4. Your Heart in Action

Investigate heart mechanics, blood flow, and how cardiovascular workouts improve your quality of life.

Duration: 32 min

5. The Fitness of Breathing

Understand lung function and breathing techniques that enhance physical and mental health.

Duration: 31 min

6. You Can Reduce Stress

Discover effective self-help tactics to combat stress and practice physical exercises that release tension.

Duration: 36 min

7. Fitness and Pregnancy

Learn how intelligent exercise provides benefits during pregnancy and recommendations for safe practices.

Duration: 27 min

8. Refuel, Recover, and Reenergize

Understand the physiology of fatigue, recovery strategies, and the importance of nutrition in physical training.

Duration: 31 min

9. Thinking – The Brain-Body Connection

Explore how exercise impacts brain function, mood, and cognitive abilities while using mental imagery to boost performance.

Duration: 30 min

10. Healthy Joints for Life

Study joint health, their role in mobility, and how exercise contributes to their longevity.

Duration: 35 min

11. Protecting Yourself from Injury

Learn about common exercise-related injuries, their healing processes, and how to minimize risks.

Duration: 34 min

12. The Amazing Benefits of Balance

Investigate balance training as a preventive health tool and practice exercises to enhance coordination and strength.

Duration: 35 min

13. Fueling Fitness

Understand energy production and study the body’s three basic fuels, learning how to train these systems effectively.

Duration: 30 min

14. Why Everyone Should Exercise in Water

Explore the benefits of water-based workouts and learn practical tips for pool exercises.

Duration: 29 min

15. The Secret Life of Muscles

Examine muscle structure, function, and how resistance training can change your physique.

Duration: 31 min

16. Strong to the Bone

Discover the living structure of bones, how resistance training increases bone density, and training options to prevent deterioration.

Duration: 32 min

17. Getting Your Back on Track

Learn about the spine’s anatomy and the importance of core strength in exercises for maintaining a healthy back.

Duration: 32 min

18. 21st-Century Yoga

Consider the health benefits of fitness yoga and practice basic poses in a structured routine.

Duration: 39 min

19. Walk Your Way to Fitness

Investigate the health impacts of walking and effective strategies for incorporating it into your routine.

Duration: 30 min

20. The Amazing Benefits of Stretching

Learn stretching techniques for flexibility training and their role in enhancing range of motion and relaxation.

Duration: 30 min

21. Stay Active – Defy the Aging Process

Examine aging effects on the body and how exercise can slow or reverse its impact.

Duration: 34 min

22. Sitting Disease

Understand the risks of prolonged sitting and strategies for introducing more activity into your daily life.

Duration: 37 min

23. Exercise for Weight Loss

Explore the synergistic relationship between exercise and weight management, focusing on effective training methods.

Duration: 29 min

24. Mobilizers and Stabilizers – Managing Your Abs

Study the anatomy of core muscles and practice exercises to strengthen and tone them.

Duration: 33 min

25. Body Weight Workout

Utilize your body weight for a comprehensive workout targeting all muscle groups without equipment.

Duration: 29 min

26. Medicine Ball Workout

Practice an effective workout using a medicine ball to enhance strength and performance.

Duration: 25 min

27. Step and Interval Workout

Combine cardio and strength exercises using a step platform for a comprehensive workout experience.

Duration: 32 min

28. Dumbbell Workout

Incorporate resistance training with dumbbells to build muscular strength and endurance across multiple muscle groups.

Duration: 24 min

29. Combat Workout

Engage in a combat-style workout that focuses on agility, balance, and coordination using no equipment.

Duration: 32 min

30. Fitness Ball Workout

Work on a fitness ball to build strength and align your body through a range of exercises.

Duration: 27 min

31. Balance Board Workout

Challenge yourself with a balance board to enhance coordination and engage more muscle fibers.

Duration: 33 min

32. Kettlebell Workout

Experience a dynamic kettlebell workout focusing on building cardio fitness and functional strength.

Duration: 26 min

33. Plyometrics Workout

Perform plyometric exercises to improve power and burn calories through jump training.

Duration: 29 min

34. Resistance Band Workout

Use resistance bands to create a full-body workout that strengthens muscles at home or on the go.

Duration: 33 min

35. Training Bar Workout

Incorporate a weighted training bar for an efficient workout targeting entire muscle groups.

Duration: 30 min

36. Stretching Routine

Finish with a comprehensive stretching routine to maintain flexibility and enable recovery.

Duration: 37 min