Over the last 13 months, health has become more important to the world. While many go to the gym to burn a few calories and keep the holiday weight off, there are other important factors that movement and exercise play in our overall health.
Decreases Stress/Improves Mood
Daily movement and exercise have been shown in clinical studies over and over again to improve mood and decrease stress. Moderate intensity activity increases blood flow, loosens stiff muscles, and helps the lungs expel carbon dioxide due to increased breathing rates. Built-up tension can decrease focus, cause aches and pains and leave you feeling exhausted at the end of the day. By improving your physical health, you are also working to keep yourself mentally healthy too!
Moving Keeps You Young
As the saying goes, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.” The more we move our bodies, the better the body will age. Once activity and exercise cease, the body tends to get rid of things it doesn’t use like mobility and strength. Staying active will keep bones dense and strong to avoid fractures, enable mental clarity, promote a strong set of heart and lungs and keep your joints moving and healthy!
Supports a Strong Immune System
The stronger the body is overall, the stronger the immune response will be. Small bursts of activity like weight training and cardio, even walks around the neighborhood provide stress to the immune system and allows for better antibody production over time.
More Energy, To Do More
If activity is already a part of daily life, getting more stuff done usually happens naturally. Finding ways to add activity into your life will in turn enable you to not only be more productive but also do more of what you love.
Promotes Better Sleep
Movement can be exhausting! Getting enough regular activity, plus a slight increase in physical activity has been shown to improve the quality of sleep. The better you recover from one day of physical activity, the better the next day will be!
Moving more every day doesn’t mean you have to grind it out in the gym. Spring is here and it’s a great time to get out of the house and move. A walk around the neighborhood to see the flowers in bloom or playing in your garden not only benefits the body but benefits the mind. A little bit of activity goes a long way towards your overall health. Make sure you’re hitting the recommended minimums of weekly activity: 150 minutes light-intensity activity, 60-90 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, 45-60 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, or a mix of all 3. And if you’re more likely to move at the gym, we’re here!
Author: Gini Grimsley, MS, CSCS
VASA Fitness Director of Fitness Product