Benefits of Excercise

Warm rays from the rising sun kissed my skin as I trotted steadily in my sweaty loose-fitting vest and shorts along a clear path that ran adjacent to my residence. I was about 15 minutes in already and exhaustion was setting in. One thought kept me going:

 I need this!

I know not many would vote exercise as being beneficial in their lives. I too at one time, believed that a bunch of physical exertion routines have no place in what I considered to be a virtually fat-free body, which I possessed. But exercise is much more than just an inexpensive weight loss programme. As I would discover later, regular exercise plays an integral role in ensuring holistic health. 

INTRODUCTION

According to Wikipedia, “Exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness”. It requires only a few minutes daily but its effects can last a lifetime. A lot of fitness plans require little or no cash at all to implement. Exercise is beneficial to all age groups. However, the specific workout routine has to be carefully tailored to the individual, preferably by an expert, which may be reliant on various factors such as age, sex, co-morbidities, etc.

TYPES OF EXERCISES

1. Aerobic: Endurance activities that build up stamina for breathing and cardiac function. E.g. walking, jogging, etc.
2. Anaerobic: Resistance training activities that are done to strengthen muscles. E.g. weight lifting and sprinting etc.
3. Balance: Activities that help in body balance on different kinds of surfaces. E.g. exercises that consist of one leg workout.
4. Flexibility: Exercises that are done to stretch muscles. E.g. Yoga
5. Relaxation activities: These include deep breathing, meditation, etc. They are very beneficial in enhancing mental health.

BENEFITS OF EXERCISES

Renee Dumont says: “If exercise was sold in the pill form, it would be the number one pill sold throughout the world because the benefits are endless”. Exercise is important not only for physical health, but for mental well-being as well.

BENEFITS FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS:

1. The above mentioned Aerobic and Anaerobic exercises help to elevate muscle strength and boost endurance capacity.
2. Regular workout delivers required oxygen to the body that helps the heart to pump blood more efficiently. It improves cardiac strength as well as lung health.
3. Physical exercises burn calories and prevent weight gain.
4. Exercises deal with health problems including stroke, high blood pressure, metabolic syndromes, indigestion, arthritis, obesity, and many more.
5. It helps to boost the immune system and reduce the risk of contracting diseases.

MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF EXERCISE:

In addition to the numerous benefits exercise has to physical fitness, it also plays a vital role in mental health.

1. Exercise helps to reduce depression. It serves as a tool for distraction, which could help break the continuous cycle of negative thoughts.
2. It relieves stress, boosts energy level, and people are more likely to feel energetic, leading to better mental health.
3. Regular exercise also helps to regulate sleep patterns. Relaxing exercises like Yoga, meditation, and stretching, help to promote better sleep.
4. It builds up resilience that helps in coping with emotional instabilities and mental traumas.

Come to think of it, I do feel less stressed since I started working out.

RISKS OF NOT EXERCISING:

It is wisely said that “The only bad workout is one that didn’t happen”. Regular exercise, no matter how unprofessionally done, has immense benefits. Likewise, missing out on it has its repercussions. 

Lack of exercise increases the risk of many health problems that are either physical or mental. For example, not exercising at all is more likely to cause cardiac diseases, diabetes, bone disorders, e.g., Arthritis, Osteoporosis, and many more. Furthermore, complications of obesity and overweight can be blamed partly on a sedentary lifestyle where there is little physical activity.

Wow! I’m kinda proud of myself right now that I started jogging. I hope I keep up the routine.

EXERCISE A DAY TO KEEP THE DOCTOR AWAY

Isn’t it strange that we find time to go to the hospital when we get ill, but can’t seem to make out as little as 15 minutes in a day for a healthy exercise/workout?

You have your whole life ahead of you; lots of goals to achieve, many dreams to conquer. Don’t let an unhealthy body stop you from living a full life.

The little bits of time investment into regular exercise may seem inconsequential when viewed at the surface level, but it definitely pays big in the long run.

In case you are wondering what kind of fitness routine suits you, talk to a fitness expert or visit your doctor.

By the way, I’m thinking of jogging for 45 minutes tomorrow. Too much?