A Workout for Everyone

GENERAL PURPOSE: To persuade

SPECIFIC PURPOSE: To persuade my audience to practice hot yoga.

THESIS STATEMENT: Hot yoga is a great alternative to high-impact sports with undeniable psychological and physiological benefits.

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Attention-getter: Guided relaxation. Now combine this method of relaxation with high-intensity cardio exercise. This is what hot yoga does.

B. Common Ground: Whether we are workout enthusiasts, or couch potatoes, there is no denying that exercise leads to a longer, healthier life. The great thing about hot yoga is any one of you in this room can benefit from it. It doesn’t matter your age or how in-shape you consider yourself to be. You can all do it.

C. Credibility: I am determined to see that each of your try hot yoga so you can see for yourselves. I have personally been practicing for over five years now, and regardless of whether I practice consistently or not, I always feel the benefits. D. Preview Sentence: Today I would like for you to get excited about the benefits of practicing hot yoga as I describe the psychological and physiological benefits and make a pledge to try it for yourself.

MAIN BODY

(TRANSISTION: First, we need understand why we need to practice in the first place.)

II. NEED:
A. Statement of Need – It’s no question that obesity is an epidemic here in the U.S., and according for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, our nation’s physical health is in jeopardy: B. Illustration – 1. Lack of physical exercise for average Americans: In 2010, “percent of adults 18 years of age and over who met the Physical Activity Guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity: 20.4%” (“CDC”, 2012, para. 1). That means less than 2 of you in this room.

C. Ramifications- There are many consequences of not exercises.
a. “Lack of exercise affects the heart, lungs, blood sugar levels, joints, bones, muscles and mood. It may even play into the development of other heath conditions such as cancer and mental decline. Not exercising affects your ability to control your weight” (Holt, 2011, para. 1).
b. Lack of exercise a major contributor in obesity: “According to the latest government numbers, 34 percent of American adults are obese and another 34 percent are overweight (Blackburn, 2011, para. 10).
c. Health costs: “Obese individuals spend on average 40 percent more on health care every year compared with individuals of normal weight” (Blackburn, 2011, para. 10).
d. A recent Reuter’s report found that the cost of health care for those who suffer from obesity have now surpassed the cost of health care for health issues related to smoking. “ ‘Obese men rack up an additional $1,152 a year in medical spending, especially for hospitalizations and prescription drugs…Obese women account for an extra $3,613 a year’” (Ungar, 2012, para. 3).

B. Illustration 2- Lack of physical exercise goes far beyond the adverse health effects and associated costs; lack of physical exercise leads to unrelieved stress, depression, poor self-image, and cognitive decline.

C. Ramifications 2-
a. Stress: “The Mayo Clinic points out that your nervous system triggers an automatic response to stress that releases a rush of adrenalin and cortisol”. These hormones affect mood, fear, and motivation. Exercise, however, counters the negative consequences of these hormones” (Crawford & Media, 2012, para. 2).
b. Depression: “Neurotransmitters and endorphins are feel-goods that relieve anxiety and lighten depression” (Crawford & Media, 2012, para. 2). Americans suffer from depression at astounding rates. Lack of exercise offers a biomedical explanation for one of the major contributors.
c. Poor self-image: We all see the magazines and watch those slender/buff Hollywood celebrities on the big screen. It is very easy to become discouraged, and this is fairly common for Americans. Yet, many give up and resign