Incorporating physical activity into your daily routine has many benefits, including aiding in weight loss, alleviating joint pain, and improving your mood. If you are new to working out, you may feel intimidated and unsure where or how to begin. In this blog, we will go into everything you need to know about how to get started and how to stick to a routine so you can experience the long-term benefits of exercise. Here is a beginner’s guide to exercise:
Benefits of Exercise
There are many reasons to begin incorporating regular exercise into your daily and weekly routine. Aside from the obvious benefit of reducing your weight (as long as you are keeping your caloric intake relatively the same), exercise effectively reduces your overall risk of developing chronic diseases and improves the management of health issues. Similarly, exercise increases your muscle mass, and the more muscle you have, the more fat your body will burn when at rest.
Additionally, exercise improves your mood and mental health due to the release of endorphins. Individuals who engage in regular and relatively intense physical activity also experience better sleep and more energy. After listing all these benefits, you better be lacing up your sneakers now to start a workout!
Types of Exercises
Before you begin putting together an exercise program, you will want to understand the various types of exercises that can help you achieve long-term benefits and fit with your schedule.
1. Aerobic and Cardio. Any form of cardiovascular exercise that increases your heart rate. This can include running, biking, swimming, dancing, playing a sport, etc. Aerobic exercises are great for strengthening your heart and lungs and burning calories. Traditionally aerobic exercises focus more on endurance than sprint training.
2. High-Intensity Interval Training: HIIT is a form of exercise that focuses on short and hard efforts followed by quick recoveries. The goal is to elevate your heart rate to burn the same amount of calories as you would doing an aerobic exercise just in less time.
3. Yoga and Pilates: Yoga and Pilates are a form of exercise that reduces the impact on your joints through slow and controlled movements. Pilate and yoga are great for strengthening your muscles, improving flexibility, and bettering your posture.
4. Strength Training: Strength exercises increase muscle mass and help you burn body fat, even why you aren’t working out! Resistance training, plyometrics, weightlifting, cross-fit, and calisthenics are all examples of strength training.
5. Stability and Balance: These exercises are designed to strengthen your muscles, improve your balance and coordination.
6. Flexibility: Focusing on your flexibility is crucial for muscle recovery and injury prevention. Stretching will also help you maintain your range of motion.