The benefits of exercise beyond just fitness

The benefits of exercise beyond just fitness

Research show that regular physical activity can help you live a better life. It not only makes you fit, but also happy.

Let’s discuss the benefits of exercise beyond fitness

Improved concentration:  For those of you who suffer from ‘nature-deficit-disorder’ exercising outdoors can help in improving concentration. Enjoying nature while you work out clears the clutter of the mind, leading to better concentration.

Higher self-esteem: Regular physical activity also has a psychological effect. Exercise improves your mood and changes the way you feel about yourself. Some researchers show that exercising reduces depression and anxiety and makes you stress free.

Better mental health: Even five or ten minutes of exercising outdoors can do improve your mental health. In addition to this, sunlight is good for mood enhancement and exercising outdoors can make you happier and mentally more stable.

Higher happiness level: Exercise releases endorphins and endorphins are responsible in making you happy. Thus, exercising makes you a merrier person.

More healing powers: A walk or run in natural light can increase your immunity and healing capacities. People recovering from surgeries can benefit from natural light and little physical activity.

Slows down ageing process of the brain: As exercising improves mental health, it ultimately slows down the ageing process of brain, making you younger at mind!

Better breathing: Breathing fresh air is good for you and exercising outdoors lets you inhale more fresh air. However, this may not hold true for people who have allergies.

Increases Vitamin D: The sunshine vitamin not only improves your mood but also significantly help in healing osteoporosis and some other diseases. The best way to get this vitamin is to exercise outdoors. Concerns of ultra violet rays and skin cancer have made people paranoid and hence led to vitamin D deficiency. 10-15 minutes in sun does more good than harm.

Lowering anxiety: Moderate to high intensity work outs make you calm. Exercise releases brain chemicals which relax an anxious mind leaving you feeling calmer.

Improves performance: Be it home or work, exercise boosts your performance. As you become fitter and more confident and your mental health improves with exercising, you also tend to perform your daily tasks better.

Promotes peaceful sleep: Exercise increases your alertness but it also calms you down and helps you sleep better at night. It is advisable however, not to exercise just before bedtime.