It is commonly perceived that if you work in the fitness industry you must be very healthy. This is true, in a lot of ways. Sure, if you work as a fitness instructor, you certainly get a lot of exercise, a lot more than the average Joe in the street does. However, what most people don’t realize is that this work also carries a great deal of risks to health, albeit of a different kind. People working in the fitness industry can be more susceptible to health risks related to too much exercise. While exercise is a bit as much about aesthetics as it is about health, some of fitness industry workers might fall victims to unhealthy body image standards.

If you look at the lifestyle of a fitness employee, you will see someone sometimes spotting for a client, helping maintain the machines, and doing a full shift that lasts several times as long as the regular gym members visit. Unlike those he trains, the fitness employee may not need to spend all his time working up a sweat. But throughout the day, all his work adds up, which at the end of the day can be very exhausting and stressful. You probably may have a more difficult day if you are an aerobic or yoga instructor. In a single day, you might need to teach several sessions. This means you need to maintain high energy levels and find a way to stay in shape for several hours a day.

Breathing techniques and vocal exercises might help improve your breathing. At least, you’ll not need to work overtime to bulk up since you’ll be making use of the muscles you already have.

If you work at a fitness center or gym, it is important to stay health mentally healthy besides being physically healthy. You’ll likely be assisting a lot of clients who are obsessed with how their body look or have poor body image issues. After working for some time, you might consider yourself hardened against such things, but what you may not realize is that their attitudes may have a subliminal effect on you and your co workers that you may not be aware of till you are having real issues. If you are having these problems, you may need to assess yourself. You can find relief by taking mood-enhancing pills, going to a therapist, or through spa treatments. Breathing exercises, especially the ones yoga practitioners use, can help you maintain mental clarity and stay calm. You’ll also be able to tap in the natural processes of your body, instead of screwing them up with chemicals causing a variety of side effects that might harm your body for a long period of time.

If you want to learn breathing exercises, you may be interested to know that Asian meditative exercises and martial arts such tai chi, qi gong, and kung fu include a great deal of preparation that involves breathing techniques. You can integrate these activities into your own physical and mental fitness program, even if you have no intention of learning the martial art itself. That is, if have no issue imbibing a little spiritualism or religion along with your well being.

Tammi A. Jones is a licensed acupuncturist in Palm Harbor, FL., practicing acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and Western medical pathology. She is also the founder of Synoma Wellness Centre.