Exercise is a great way to meet many fitness goals, such as losing weight and toning your body. However, many people don’t understand the full effect that exercise can have.
Regular exercise can strengthen the heart, of course, which has an impact on the rest of the body. It can also help you improve balance and flexibility, reduce stress, promote better sleep, help fight mental health struggles, and much more.
The trouble with regular exercise for some people is having the time to fit it in. For others, it’s finding a workout they can comfortably manage. And some people struggle with choosing an exercise that actually motivates them to keep doing it.
Fortunately, there are many different types of exercises that suit different schedules, interests, and difficulty levels. The following are a few ideas to help you get started.
Swimming
For most people, swimming is an enjoyable activity, but it’s much more than a hobby. It’s actually an excellent full-body workout. It can tone and strengthen your muscles, help with weight loss, and strengthen your heart and lungs. Additionally, it’s great for relieving stress and improving flexibility.
One of the great things about swimming is that it’s easy on the body. It’s low impact, meaning it doesn’t put stress on the joints or aggravate injuries.
It’s also versatile. Whether you have a small above-ground pool in your yard, a lake near your home, or access to a gym, there are several places to swim. And you don’t have to treat it like a workout. You can get the benefits of swimming simply by jumping in and having a good time.
Tai Chi
Tai chi is a very graceful, low-impact workout that you can do anywhere. Many gyms offer classes if you’d like to join them. However, you can also do it in your front yard or right beside your bed.
The slow, graceful movements help build balance, tone the body, and relax the body and mind. So if you only have 10 minutes right before bed, that’s okay.
Yoga
Yoga is another great full-body workout – a very versatile one. It’s a mix of strengthening, cardio, and stretching movements – all of which provide incredible physical results. However, yoga is also excellent for stress.
There are different levels, depending on your comfort and ability. You can choose to stick with very low-key relaxing workouts, faster-paced workouts for cardio, or power yoga workouts for the ultimate exercise. Yoga is another workout you can do anywhere and at any time.
HIIT Cardio Workouts
HIIT cardio workouts are very effective for both weight loss and muscle gain. And the best thing is that it can be done in a short amount of time. You can do these workouts in a gym setting, in your front yard, or in your living room.
For some – especially those that have been sedentary for some time or have an injury – probably shouldn’t jump headfirst into these types of workouts. However, after you’ve recovered or built up some endurance, you can get your workout done in as little as a third of the time that normal workouts require.
Dance
Whether you’re just starting to exercise or you are looking for something enjoyable to try, dance is a great aerobic exercise. And there are many gyms that offer different types of dance classes for your consideration.
You don’t have to take those classes, though. All you really need is to put on some music and move. You can do that while cooking, folding laundry, or taking care of any other regular task. It’s a great way to fit in some exercise when you’re schedule is packed for the day.
