The Benefits of Exercising

The benefits of physical activity are available to people of all ages – not just to younger people.  Participating in vigorous physical activity for a few years when you are young probably contributes little to increased longevity of life expectancy.  However, a physically active lifestyle throughout your entire life grants significant health benefits.  Some of these benefits include decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease (including strengthening the heart, improving blood cholesterol levels, lowering blood pressure, and decreasing the risks of becoming diabetic or obese), decreased risk of some forms of cancer, strengthens bones, which decreases the risk of osteoporosis, reduces muscle atrophy, prevents or relieves arthritis, combats fatigue and also improves sleep.

In addition to these benefits, moderate cardiovascular exercise can be used to aid in the recovery from heart attacks or strokes.  Finally, and perhaps most importantly for increasing the quality of an older person’s life, exercise programs can improve self-esteem and increase one’s feeling of independence, while providing social interaction which combats the feelings of loneliness that face many mature adults.

In short, physical exercise determines how healthy you will be in the years to come.  It is very realistic to envision yourself as being healthy and independent long past midlife;  It’s up to you!  The matter of aging should be everyone’s own personal responsibility.  Take charge of your life and remain physically active to prevent the diseases that are  normally associated with aging from occurring, rather than treating the diseases after they have occurred.  Can you see how regular physical exercise can add years to your life and life to your years!

As always, when beginning an exercise  program, choose your exercises wisely.  If individuals who have been sedentary all of their lives suddenly started running, they can easily injure themselves, running is fine if you’ve done it all our life.   The key is to begin any new exercise program gradually, especially programs that involve physical activities that you are not accustomed. to.  Here at Phoenix Fitness Hamilton, our Hamilton Personal Trainers can help you choose activities that are safe for you will also design an exercise program around these activities.  For many inactive people who are beginning a program of regular exercise later in life,  the services of a Hamilton Personal Trainer is the safest and most effective way to start.