Drishti Chhabria
Fitness and exercise are often popular to help achieve fitness goals such as weight loss, toning, increased muscle mass and a lot more, but there are many other physical benefits of exercise. The direct result of regular exercise is cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength and endurance. Cardiovascular endurance helps your body sustain physical activity over extended periods of time as well as improve your heart health. Muscular strength and muscular endurance help improve daily physical performance and reduce the risk of injury, as well as help the body sustain other physical activities during your daily routine. Flexibility and balance are also key benefits of regular exercise which help your body improve joint mobility and prevent any muscle stiffness or injuries. Further, regular exercise helps enhance stability and increases bone density to reduce any risk of falls, risk of osteoporosis or fractures while strengthening bones.
Beyond direct physical benefits of exercise, there are many other physical, emotional, and mental benefits that regular exercise provides. In fact, regular exercise can help prevent and manage many diseases such as strokes, diabetes, heart disease and several more. Exercise can contribute to control your blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and improve your cholesterol levels in turn improving your health while managing diseases. While managing and preventing diseases, staying active can also help you improve your energy levels, increase stamina, sleep better, and improve your overall health daily.
Not only is exercise good for your physical health, but also supports emotional and mental health. It helps reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression by improving your mood and overall well-being. The endorphins and “feel-good” hormones released during exercise can help empower you to feel more in control as well as boost your mood. Physical activity also helps stimulate many brain chemicals that improve cognitive function and help you feel more relaxed and happier. The flow of blood and oxygen to the brain helps stimulate production of brain cells, along with improving memory and learning. In fact, physical activity and exercise helps slow down the physiological effect of aging in the brain which can help prevent conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
The most important point to note is exercise can be fun and social! It is not only to gain benefits or achieve a fitness goal, but to also help connect with friends and family in a social setting. The best way to stay motivated is to find an exercise buddy with whom you can find an activity you enjoy, specifically a healthier activity. Finding a community and meeting new people is the biggest benefit of engaging in a fitness routine. Whether it is hiking or running with a group outdoors, taking a workout class or joining a sports team, engaging in a group activity gives you something fun to do with friends & family while meeting new people through these activities. At Orangetheory Fitness, beyond the physical, emotional, and mental benefits of our science-backed workouts, the greatest benefit is our community. The feeling of a sense of belonging and meeting a community with like-minded individuals is the greatest gift of exercising beyond the health benefits.
Remember, the key to success is not to have any elaborate routine or dedicate large amounts of time to exercise but to start somewhere. It can be as simple as a daily walk, taking the stairs instead of the elevator or engaging in more physical activity on the day to day.
When you start your exercise routine, remember to:
Have a clear goal! – Always remember your “WHY” and why you originally started your exercise routine while following your goals. Set small, clear targets and celebrate small wins to boost your levels!
Work at your own pace – Start slow and don’t rush into any goal. You can increase the risk of injury and chance to develop a stable routine by overdoing any exercise initially.
Enjoy yourself – A workout routine is more sustainable if a person enjoys the physical activity itself and can stay engaged for the long run.
Make it a habit – After a few weeks of dedication, a routine will become a habit even if you find it difficult or boring at first.
Drishti Chhabria is Founder and Chief Experience Officer, Orangetheory Fitness India
