Education

The Transformational Power of Fitness: How Exercise Can Change Your Life

Fitness

Fitness

The benefits of exercise have been long-touted. Slowly but surely, many fitness gurus and experts have turned away from the philosophy of exercising just to lose weight. They now take a body-positive approach to fitness and espouse both the physical and emotional perks of building a consistent exercise routine. Whether you are looking to start a fitness journey or become a trainer to help others do the same, working out will have a positive impact on your life.

Become a Trainer

You can make fitness an integral part of your life and make money for it. Personal and group trainers are well-versed in functional exercises, injury prevention, and often nutrition. They help others cultivate practical workout routines and balanced diets. The most trusted coaches have received accredited certifications, likely from NASM or ISSA.

The National Academy of Sports Medicine and the International Sports Sciences Association provide students with comprehensive facts regarding health and fitness and insights into corrective exercises and balancing the musculoskeletal system. By investing in one of these certifications, you can support others on their wellness journeys while boosting your confidence and know-how for your exercise routines.

Emotional Boost

Top of her class at Harvard Law, Elle Woods said it best: Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Along with serotonin and dopamine, endorphins are “feel-good” hormones. They act as pain relievers and happiness boosters. Research correlates high endorphin levels with reduced anxiety, greater self-esteem, and pleasure.

The pituitary gland produces endorphins during sustained exercise. The more consistent your workout routine, the more you will experience endorphin release and improved mood. With its ability to reduce discomfort, exercise helps you cope with mental stress, anxiety, and depression. Physical movement can distract the brain from negative thought spirals and help you focus on the present moment.

While many individuals require and benefit from anti-anxiety medication and antidepressants, exercise is a critical, natural supplement to improving your well-being. Exercise also improves sleep, which is essential to physical and mental health.

Encourages Functional Movement

The more sedentary your lifestyle, the more likely you will struggle to complete everyday tasks like grocery shopping and doing the laundry. Your muscles and organs require routine exercise to operate at their highest potential. For example, your heart and lungs function like muscles. Moderate and vigorous aerobic exercise increases oxygen and nutrient flow to these organs. High-intensity interval training (or HIIT) improves heart rate variability, the difference in time between heartbeats. High HRV is crucial because it allows your body to adapt quickly and efficiently, helping you handle changing circumstances with less stress.

By the time you reach your 40s, your bone mass will decrease. If your body cannot replace lost bone mass quickly, you might develop conditions like osteoporosis as you age. This condition makes the bones weak and brittle, increasing your risk for bone fractures. Weight-bearing exercises can prevent this possibility. It may not seem like it, but bones are living tissues. They adapt. While you will naturally lose bone mass over time, you can strengthen bones and their surrounding tissues (muscles, ligaments, and tendons) with consistent physical activity.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that adults complete at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise weekly and complete strength training workouts twice a week. You can meet these goals by completing enjoyable exercises designed for your unique body. By doing so, you’ll discover that it’s easier to complete daily tasks, avoid injuries, and sustain energy levels.

Builds Community

The road to building an exercise routine might seem lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. Healthy habits can be hard to cultivate, making accountability and support imperative. Thankfully, working out doesn’t have to look like hitting up the running trail or gym alone (unless those options sound like heaven for you). You can look within your current circle for a fitness partner or find another support system by trying something new. Exercise can take place away from treadmills and weights. You might book a dance class, sign up for rock climbing lessons, or join a local soccer team.

Being active can be fun and help you cultivate new relationships. Starting a fitness journey might seem intimidating, but it can help you explore your interests and build a community.

Conclusion

Consistent exercise is crucial to leading a healthy and balanced lifestyle. It combats conditions and diseases like arthritis and type 2 diabetes, increases mobility and strength, and prevents injuries. It also improves mental and emotional health through improved cognition, social connections, and the production of mood-stabilizing hormones. However you decide to get active, exercise changes your life for the better.