6 Inspiring Health Benefits of Exercise

March 23, 2019

Do you need some extra motivation to start exercising regularly? Apart from helping you lose some excess weight and tone up, exercise has many other health benefits. From physical, mental and emotional benefits, working out regularly can greatly transform your life. Here of some of the most inspiring health benefits of exercise to inspire you to move that body regularly!

1) Feel Happier.
2) Boost self-confidence.
3) Release stress and tension.
4) Boost energy levels.
5) Sleep better.
6) Grow old well.
Feeling motivated to exercise regularly?

1) Feel Happier.

Who doesn’t want to feel happier?

Exercise has been shown to improve mood and increase overall feelings of happiness in various ways.

One of the ways is that, when we exercise, our bodies release feel-good chemicals into the brain, like dopamine and endorphin, that make us… feel good.

When you exercise regularly, you’ll notice this. Since regularly exercising, I know that, even if I wake up groggy and unmotivated, after even just a short amount of exercise, like a 15-minute yoga routine, I feel better. Afterwards, I am far more motivated and positive.

The happier we feel, the more likely we are to live a more fulfilling life. So just this one simple idea that exercise can make you happier, should be motivation enough to get that body moving-moving!

2) Boost self-confidence.

Exercising regularly can have a powerful effect on your self-confidence.

The physical benefits of regular exercise have a big impact on how you feel about yourself. Losing some excess weight, toning up, having glowing skin, and just looking fabulous in general, all give you that extra boost of confidence.

But wait, there’s more…

By showing up regularly to workout, no matter how small the commitment, you feel a sense a pride afterwards. Even if it’s just for 15 minutes a couple of times a week, you feel as though you have stuck to your agreements with yourself, you have done something for yourself and your health, and you feel a sense of achievement. This only motivates you more – compelling you to keep going and working towards your best self in all other areas of your life.

It’s almost as though exercise gives you those feelings, both physically and mentally of becoming your best self – You look better, you feel better, and you have a feeling of pride and accomplishment.

This increased motivation and self-confidence is essential in helping you go for your dreams and build a life you truly love. And because exercise helps improve self-confidence in so many ways, this is a great motivator to start moving that body baby!

3) Release stress and tension.

So many of us are stressed, be it physically, mentally, or emotionally. Or all three at the same time!

And, even when we think we are relaxed, we’re often not – We’ve got so much built up tension in our bodies or are so drained mentally, that it’s tough to truly feel relaxed and fully de-stressed even when we are relaxing.

Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and tension physically, mentally and emotionally.

Physically speaking, many suffer from built up tension in the body. From achy muscles and sore backs to stiff necks and uptight shoulders. So many people carry this uncomfortable feeling around with them, and it can have an impact on how they approach their day. If you’re one of these people, do your body a favour and stretch out those poor muscles. Commit to as little as 15 minutes 3 times a week first thing in the morning, and take the time to relax and unwind.

Youtube is a great resource to find any kind of exercise video – Check out this list of Yoga to Relax Videos – Choose a video that works for you, and press play on one of them tomorrow morning. Your sore muscles will thank you!

Apart from stretching out tense muscles, exercise is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety, and improve overall mental wellness.

Harvard Health puts an aspect of it nicely:

Exercise reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators.

Different types of exercise can reduce stress in different ways, from aerobic activity, dancing, tai chi, yoga, pilates, you name it. So, find an exercise you enjoy and that feels good, commit regularly, and see how you feel after a few weeks.

Get the oxygen pumping around your body, stretch out those stiff achy muscles, takes some time out just for you to release some tension and refresh the mind!

4) Boost energy levels.

Do you suffer from fatigue? Regular exercise could help you.

Mayo Clinic says it well:

Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lung health improve, you have more energy to tackle daily chores.

Exercise helps our bodies function, and this can restore balance and help us feel more energised and alive.

Both high-intensity and low-intensity exercises are great options. Whether you want to do some high impact cardio, go for a walk in the park with friends, go dancing, or do a 20 min yoga routine, it’s up to you.

Exercising is more about living an active life, and moving your body more, in whatever way feels most comfortable to you. When it comes to exercise, you really feel the benefits when you do it regularly. So rather start small and do something you enjoy, as that’ll help make it easier for you to form a solid habit and keep it up.

Get that oxygen flowing through your body, and feel energised and alive!

Side note: Something I have noticed that I think is worth mentioning – When I start exercising regularly again, after a period of no exercise, I usually wake up feeling exhausted. But, over time, exercising consistently, I start feeling more and more energised and the exhaustion fades. It’s as though my body needs time to adjust and slowly finds its new normal. So give yourself time to adjust.

5) Sleep better.

Exercise can be a fantastic way to improve your sleep, and could help you increase your deep sleep and sleep duration.

Particularly if you suffer from insomnia, which can be dreadfully debilitating, introducing regular exercise could be worth a try, as it could really help.

Sleep has been shown to strengthen the body’s circadian rhythm – helping our body’s find a better and more natural cycle – giving us the energy to seize the day, and bringing on natural sleepiness as night falls.

There is no one way of exercising to help you sleep, as we are all unique bio individuals. So experiment with different exercises and see what works for you.

Some exercise in the evening, because it expends energy and helps relax the body a couple of hours before bedtime. Others may find that exercising too close to bedtime disturbs their sleep because they’re too full of energy.

Some exercise first in the morning, like I do, because it gives them a boost of energy for the day, and by the time night comes, their body’s cycle is ready for a good sleep.

The type of exercise is also important to consider – A more intensive aerobic workout may very likely affect you differently to a deeply relaxing yoga session. Have some fun trying different types of exercises and monitor your energy levels. You could even keep a journal to help you reflect back, notice patterns, and discover what works best for you.

Experiment with different exercises and times of day, listen to your body, and find a routine that works for you.

Read more about how exercise can improve sleep, and start a regular routine!

6) Grow old well.

Exercise has many longterm benefits that add up to a better life when you’re older.

As you get older, your muscles and bones get tired. I think of my 90-something-year-old grandad saying often, jokingly, ‘Oh my bones, my bones!‘

When you exercise, depending on the exercises you do, you can increase strength and flexibility. Overall, you keep your muscles and bones strong, and can prevent the onset of diseases like osteoporosis.

Exercising regularly has also been shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases that may lead to an early death.

The are many reasons to exercise regularly for your old age – It can help improve cardiovascular health, maintain bone health, build muscle strength, and maintain mental health. Exercise helps build a strong foundation, and as your body gets frail, can even help prevent falls, which is a big concern for the elderly.

Overall, exercise can keep your body strong, supple and alive. And so… take charge of your health now and keep your body strong, so that when you’re older you can continue to live your best life.

Feeling motivated to exercise regularly?

I hope that this post has inspired you to exercise regularly. Remember, exercise doesn’t refer simply to intensive workouts, but rather to the overall idea of living an active life. You may find that going for leisurely walks or ballroom dancing is what makes you feel your best. Find ways to be active in your life that feel good. It’s your life, so make it work for you!

Do you exercise regularly? What is your current routine? If not, what small steps are you going to take to get your body moving more?