Due to the COVID situation, many people, including myself end up being stuck in a slump, with a lack of motivation to exercise. With the government announcing the commencement of Phase 2, and with many sports facilities slowly opening up in Singapore, there really is not much excuses we can make about not exercising.
In this article, I will be talking about
- Exercising, and what it entails
- Benefits of exercising
- The diseases it can help prevent
Exercising, and what it entails
Taking part in physical activities can benefit anyone and can start during any stages of our lives. Singaporeans are seen to be healthier today because they participate more actively in sport and exercise regularly.
According to the Sports Index, Middle-aged women in Singapore (40-59 years old) are the least active, and 77% of them surveyed gave a lack of time as the excuse for not exercising.
For those who strive to achieve and continue having a high quality of health, they must note that physical activity is vital to having optimal health. Engaging in physical activities will impact quality of life and can be used to improve self-esteem and self-image. These are all useful in building one’s mental health.
Physical activity encompasses all forms of muscle movements, ranging from sports to lifestyle activities. Exercise can be defined as physical activity that is a planned, structured movement of the body designed to enhance physical fitness. Some examples of these activities include walking, running, cycling and swimming.
Exercise is used for the development of fitness, which comes in two primary forms, motor fitness and physical fitness. Motor fitness includes balance, coordination, motion, and speed and is developed in the first few years of a child’s life through play exercises. Physical fitness includes aerobic fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition. Physical fitness can be addressed in children as young as five years of age and continues to affect health through adulthood.
Benefits of exercise
There are numerous benefits associated with regular participation in an aerobic exercise program, including improved cardiovascular and respiratory functioning, reduced coronary artery disease (CAD) risk, and increased quality of life. Beneficial improvements in cardiovascular and respiratory function include an increased ability of exercising muscles to consume oxygen, lowered resting and exercise heart rates, increased stamina, resistance to fatigue, more effective management of diabetes, reduced bone-mineral loss, decreased blood pressure, and increased efficiency of the heart. It is recognized that specific exercises can be used for the purpose of increasing strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility.
Exercise to prevent diseases
Research has also confirmed that aerobic exercise can reduce high blood pressure, obesity, type II diabetes, and osteoporosis. In addition, stroke and several types of cancer (such as breast, prostate, and lung cancer) can also be reduced with regular physical activity.
Furthermore, when an individual lowers his or her high blood pressure, the risk for heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease is also reduced.
There are many benefits for you to start exercising regularly, and with the swimming pools, gyms and other sports facilities slowly opening up, remember to always stay safe as well.
