Exercise Your Way To…. Health & Happiness

For some of us exercise is a chore, for others it’s a joy. We all know exercise is good for us, but most of us don’t do enough for good health. Doctors estimate that between 65% and 85% of the world’s population fail to exercise enough

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There are plenty of excuses not to exercise, the most common being “I don’t have time”. Make time. If we can do non-essential things, we can exercise. It’s vital for health, fitness and happiness.

The benefits are worth it. Professor Mario Maranhao, president of the World Heart Federation said, “Moderate exercise, such as a brisk walk for 30 minutes most days, helps control weight, cuts stress, anxiety and depression.”

In fact studies show that jogging for 30 minutes three times a week can be as good as psychotherapy in treating depression; and there’s more good news. If jogging isn’t for you, any type of exercise can reduce depressive symptoms.

We can gain a tremendous number of benefits from exercise. Exercise can:

• Help treat anxiety and depression
• Reduce stress and feelings of anger
• Improve concentration and memory
• Increase confidence and self esteem
• Improve the immune system
• Enhance metabolism
• Help prevent heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers
• Improve muscle tone
• Strengthen bones
• Help with weight loss and weight maintenance
• Improve quality of sleep
• Increase energy levels
• Improve balance, coordination and agility
• Reduce high blood pressure
• Reduce high cholesterol

Still don’t feel like exercising? Here’s some food for thought: the World Heart Federation has warned that failure to exercise is as bad for health as smoking a packet of cigarettes every day!