The Benefits of Movement: Three Reasons to Exercise

Have you ever noticed a slight spring in your step or a more balanced perspective on life after you work out? If so, you’re not simply imagining these benefits. When it comes to dealing with daily stress and managing your health, the benefits of movement cannot be denied. Besides decreasing your risk of a variety of diseases, including cancer, regular physical activity also helps build confidence and a better understanding of yourself. Keep reading to learn more about the science behind the benefits of moving more.

The mental, physical, and  emotional benefits of exercise are too great to ignore.

1. Movement can prolong your life. Regular physical exercise can help extend your life expectancy by decreasing your risk of deadly diseases such as cancer, stroke, and heart disease – just to name a few. This article describes how exercise can actually change the way that your heart works by making it stronger and more efficient, and having a strong heart helps prevent heart attacks and high blood pressure.

In addition to strengthening your heart, regular exercise also helps prevent cancer and diabetes. One recent study found that men who exercised vigorously for at least 30 minutes per day reduced their risk of dying prematurely from cancer by 50 percent. Another study reported that an hour of more of exercise per day also greatly reduces the risk of developing breast cancer. So, if you are struggling to find the motivation to fit exercise into your day, these findings should go a long way toward influencing you to move.

2. Movement helps you deal with suppressed emotions. As if providing major health benefits weren’t enough, regular exercise also helps you process life circumstances and build confidence by helping you deal with any suppressed emotions. In this way, movement serves as therapy. This article describes how movement can go beyond the limitations of verbal language to help any suppressed emotions rise to the surface. For example, you may realize that you feel frustrated after a difficult workout, even if you didn’t feel that way prior to working out. As such emotions surface, you are able to deal with them, rather than letting them cause harm by remaining unchecked.

Movement can also be therapeutic, as it is an excellent stress-reliever. If you’ve had a particularly stressful day at work, or just a stressful day in general, try working out. You may find that it provides a great outlet for reducing stress and tension.

3. Exercise can make you smarter. People who exercise are shown to be mentally sharper, and as a result, more productive throughout the day. One study found that “almost any amount of moderate physical activity reduced the odds of mild cognitive impairment by 30 percent to 40 percent.” Further, physical activity may also protect against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. So, if you want to go beyond strengthening your body to strengthen your mind as well, regular exercise will do the trick.

Working up a good sweat not only protects your health, but it protects your mind and emotions as well. So look for physical activities that you genuinely enjoy, and do them often. Your overall health will thank you. The Sports Club at Garden of the Gods Club offers a variety of group fitness classes, personal training packages, Pilates, and more to help you find your fitness niche. If you are interested in learning more about sports memberships at GGC, we encourage you to contact Director of Membership Tracey Kalata at 719.520.4980 or tkalata@ggclub.com.