While most people see excercise as a way to lose weight, the benefits of excercise on the body are far greater. Research overwhelmingly shows the benefits of excersice on mental health.
All excersice is beneficial but including various excercise types into daily life can expand the benefits further.
Aerobic/Cardiovascular physical activity:
activities that are intense enough and are performed long enough to
maintain/improve heart and lung fitness.
Examples: walking, jogging, dancing, bicycling, basketball, soccer,
swimming
Muscle-strengthening activity:
Often referred to as resistance training, muscle strengthening activities maintain or increase
muscle strength, endurance, and power.
Examples: weight machines, free weights, resistance elastic bands, Pilates, daily
activities of living (lifting children, carrying groceries or laundry, climbing stairs)
Flexibility training:
This may be referred to as stretching. It lengthens or flexes a skeletal muscle to the point of
tension, and holds for several seconds to increase elasticity and range of motion around a joint. Improving flexibility
can enhance the overall physical performance of other types of exercise.
Examples: dynamic stretches performed with
movement (yoga, tai chi), static stretches without movement (holding a pose for several seconds or longer), passive
stretching (using an external force like a strap or wall to hold an elongated pose), and active stretching (holding a
pose without an external force)
Balance training:
Activities that are intended to throw off one's balance to improve body control and stability. They
can help to prevent falls and other injuries.
Examples: standing on one foot, walking heel-to-toe in a perfectly
straight line, standing on a balance or wobble board
