Moving your body is one of the most beneficial activities that you can engage in for your own health and well-being. Whether it is swimming, running, dancing or doing yoga, the physical and mental benefits far outweigh being sedentary and may even help you live longer. Some benefits are more immediate and others beneficial in the long-term. Even moderate activity can result in improvements to mental health, assist in reducing or managing weight and preventing or managing diseases to name a few.
Here are just a few reasons to get moving:
- Assisting in reducing and managing weight. Moving your body assists with burning calories – in doing so you are able to lose/maintain your weight and increase your muscle mass, strength and flexibility.
- Increases your energy levels. Exercising regularly reduces fatigue and stimulates the production of endorphins which in turn elevates your mood.
- Reduces the risk of chronic disease. Exercise helps to maintain or reduce weight. This has a positive impact on reducing the risk of chronic disease in turn. A lack of exercise results in more body fat which can lead to heart disease or type 2 diabetes.
- Better sleep and ability to relax more deeply. Exercise not only assists you in falling asleep more quickly but allows you to sleep more deeply and have a better quality of sleep. The quality of sleep assists with greater energy levels during the period that you are awake.
- Pain management. It has a positive impact on relieving pain, especially chronic pain by increasing a person’s tolerance to it as well as their perception thereof.
- Boosts your sex drive. Regular exercise results in an increase in desire and sexual function in both sexes. It can also decrease the risk and symptoms of erectile dysfunction in men.
- Builds strong muscles and bones. Exercise reduces the loss of muscle experienced as you age. It also prevents osteoporosis that can occur later in life.
- Elevates your mood. The endorphins released during exercise helps improve mood and reduces anxiety, stress and depression as well.