Exercise has been one of the most effective ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle because of the numerous benefits it gives not just physically, but also emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. There are different types of exercise, ranging from the extreme ones such rigorous sports like boxing, tennis, football, running, basketball, etc. where almost all parts of the body is required to move at a very fast pace. There are also types of exercise that are less intense such as walking, yoga, pilates, etc, where the pacing is a lot slower and the heartbeat does not rapidly increase.
Exercise has several benefits for the body and some of those are the following:
Burns calories which aids weight loss
Decreases chances of cardiovascular disease
Good for the respiratory system
Aids digestion
Helps for leaner and stronger muscles
And many others
An important thing to remember is not to over-exercise and to balance your week. It is not recommended to exercise everyday because this should be a lifestyle change and you should appreciate small wins. If you go from never exercising to having a goal of exercising everyday, then not only is this a shock to the system but you are most likely not going to stick to this 2-3 weeks down the line. This can cause you to feel defeated, like you’ve let yourself down and unmotivated. Also, exercising everyday can cause inflammation, sore joints and exhaustion. Set small, achievable goals that you can build up overtime. This way you will build up a momentum and feel good about yourself. This is about balance and having a healthy life. Listen to your body, if you are too sore to work out today then take the day off, spend time with family and be present.
Although exercise can really help people who are having a different time to sleep because it will exhaust all the energy, it is not recommended to exercise 2 hours before bedtime. This is because the adrenaline/noradrenaline is produced while exercising. Your body will be stimulated, your heart rate and temperature elevated. We’ve all been in this state and it’s a great high, but not the relaxed calm state required for restful sleep. Studies have shown that it’s best to avoid exercise 2 hours before bed for optimal sleep.
