Hi Nancy! What a fun question. Thanks for asking. I believe exercise variety is the spice of life. I think everybody should find exercise activities they love, that feel good and natural to their body, and give them results. While I may enjoy high impact over low impact, I would never push this, or any philosophy for that matter, on anybody. I respectfully leave that decision up to each individual.
The long term effects of any cardio activity is measured by how a person has listened to their body along the way (modified up or down on any given workout over the years), the type of lifestyle they have lead as well as the environment they have lived in, their biomechanics, and their overall genetic blueprint.
It is important to also point out that an exercise that feels good for one person, might not be the best choice for another. Or an exercise that feels good or is appropriate for an individual today, may not feel good or be appropriate tomorrow (and vice versa). For example, a pregnant woman will have different exercise needs while pregnant. A person who has recovered from a broken ankle will require a different exercise program than one that was offered during rehab. An elderly person who is diagnosed with osteoporosis will require a different exercise program than before. A fitness enthusiast who has decided to enter a triathlon will require a different exercise program. A person who wants to become a competitve body builder will have different exercise needs than a marathon runner....the list goes on.
I can only hope that when a person chooses any exercise activity that they act responsibly, listen to their body, and select a workout activity that is suitable for their current needs. If they do this, they can be sure to experience very favorable long term exercise benefits.
I hope you could follow that Nancy
