Courses

Human movement and exercise can increase quality of life through improved immunity, sleep, energy, metabolism, psychological state, longevity (meaning disease-risk reduction), and the improved function of tissues such as bones, nerves, joints, and muscles. This course highlights what the scientific literature says about the impact that human movement has on health and fitness parameters so that exercise can be targeted to specific goals. Students will learn a simple approach for applying this information to their lives, helping them to develop personalized exercise programs that benefit from an enhanced understanding of the fundamental processes involved. Topics covered will include anatomy, the neural control of movement, how muscles contract and become damaged during exercise, and the recovery and adaptation process. Homework will focus on applying course concepts to each person's individual life goals and lifestyle, combining what each person wants with the realities of their life to strike the balance between what is simultaneously most effective and most sustainable.