The benefits of exercise

Tuesday 11th May 2010 2:47pm

man walking dog on beach Everyone has heard that they need to exercise more to enhance their health and wellbeing unfortunately when many people hear this they think that they are expected to get off of the lounge and run a marathon. It’s no wonder their motivation suffers and they stay firmly planted in the chair.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. Gentle exercise is very beneficial as long as it is regular. It is recommended that about half an hour or so for or five times a week will have many of the following benefits :

Maintaining a healthy weight
Building and maintaining healthy bone density
Improving muscle strength and balance
Improved joint mobility
Promoting physiological well-being
Reducing surgical risks
Strengthening the immune system

Exercise also boosts your energy, mood, and brainpower

Relieves stress and anxiety
Alleviates depression
Boosts mood
Sharpens brainpower
Improves self-esteem

When exercising, it becomes even more important to have a good diet in order to aid the body with the recovery process following strenuous exercise.

Proper rest and recovery are also important to health; otherwise the body exists in a permanently injured state and will not improve or adapt adequately to the exercise.

Exercise does not need to hurt, be boring, or take hours and hours. Even just 15 minutes a day can help. Start off with just a few minutes of exercise a day, then after a while, you’ll have the energy to add a few more minutes to your routine.

Reaping the benefits of exercise is easier than you think

Current recommendations for physical activity suggest 30-minutes of moderate exercise five times a week. If that seems intimidating, don’t despair. Take heart knowing that you don’t have to train at the gym, sweat buckets, or run a single step to reap the benefits of physical activity.

Moderate exercise means two things:

That you breathe a little heavier than normal, but are not out of breath. For example, you should be able to chat with your walking partner, but not easily sing a song.
That your body feels warmer as you move, but not overheated or very sweaty.

Do I need different types of exercise?

Different types of exercise benefits your health in different ways:

Aerobic activities like running, biking and swimming strengthen your heart and increase your endurance.
Strength training like weight lifting or resistance training builds muscle and bone mass, improves balance and prevents falls. It’s one of the best counters to frailty in old age.
Flexibility exercises like stretching and yoga help prevent injury, enhance range of motion, reduce stiffness, and limit aches and pains.

At first, just focus on getting any kind of exercise, whatever it may be. As exercising becomes your habit, try adding variety. If you keep at it, the benefits of exercise will begin to pay off.

So get started…. NOW!

This information is not intended as a substitute for qualified medical advice. Please consult a properly qualified health care practitioner.