We live for physical movement and without it our life is less satisfying and not as vibrant as it can be.
Exercise or movement is a key element leading to true health. The challenge for some is to find the types of exercise that appeal to them and that can fit into their life on most days.
How does your body feel when you exercise? Or how do you feel when sitting in front of a computer for a long time?
Regular physical activity is a way to control your weight while boosting your energy and improving your mood. A few of the many other benefits include: preventing heart disease and strokes, helping to build and maintain bone strength and keeping you healthy and strong.
While going to a gym regularly is commendable, there are so many other ways to exercise. You probably exercise more than you realize!
For children, playing outside with friends is one of the best and most fun ways of exercising. They can engage in sports, play tag or catch, ride their bikes or swing their hula hoops. If they need to stay indoors, your children can dance to their favourite songs or play a game of hide and seek.
For adults, housework is a great way to burn calories. Polishing, dusting, mopping and sweeping are incredible for keeping arms in great shape. Bending and stretching, while making beds or washing windows and doing the laundry tones your thighs and improves flexibility.
Running up and down the stairs as you tidy your home is an amazing aerobic workout.
More energetic household chores such as decorating and spring cleaning, burn even more calories. And then there is gardening with its weeding, digging, mowing the lawn, trimming hedges or bushes and sweeping up. These are activities designed to tone muscles and burn calories.
Different people need different types of exercise to stay healthy. For some. running outdoors gives them the boost of energy they need and for others. yoga calms them after a stressful day. We also have different times we prefer to be physically active.
Just remember to choose what works for you because the more you enjoy the exercise, the more you’ll move and thrive.
And remember you can choose your best life one step at a time.
Nili Abrahams, Certified Holistic Health Coach at ChooseLifeNutrition, integrating Health and Wellness with Torah’s Wisdom.