Health and Fitness While Instructing

Health and Fitness While Instructing

The World Health Organization, CDC, American Heart Association, and others recommend 150 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise each week (American Heart Association, 2024). But how does one do that? It’s one thing to be seated at a desk and able do chair exercises. Or get up and take a walk. But, taking a walk at 6,000 feet AGL is potentially problematic. It’ll certainly get the heart rate up.

The FAA and several other health and wellness organizations also recommend anaerobic conditioning like weight training, resistance exercises, and flexibility programs (Federal Aviation Administration, 2025). This type of exercise helps your body use nutrients more efficiently and endure greater levels of physical stress. But how does one lift weights while maintaining a rigorous teaching and flying schedule?

In this session, we will discuss the reasons for the recommendations and how it helps a person live a longer, healthier life. We will also review the basics of a healthy lifestyle, including what happens at regular medical checkups, how to eat a healthy diet, and “gotchas” as we age. Finally, we will discuss how to accomplish the goal of a healthy lifestyle while living a busy, flight-instructing life.

References

American Heart Association. (2024, Jan 19). American Heart Association Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults and Kids. Retrieved Jun 8, 2025, from American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-in-adults

Federal Aviation Administration. (2025). Fit for Flight. Civil Aerospace Medical Institute. Oklahoma City, OK: Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved Jun 8, 2025, from https://www.faa.gov/pilots/safety/pilotsafetybrochures/media/FitFor_Flight.pdfgws-wiz-serp

Presenter