Exercise is fundamental to our well-being and to our health, that much is proven. And while many may claim that the best type of exercise is the type we enjoy, there are some forms that stand above the rest.
In an in-depth paper written by Harvard Health, they go over the various forms of exercise and explain which ones are best for our health. If you are someone that doesn’t like to exercise, the good thing is, these are really simple to implement into your routine to reap the benefits.
1. Aerobic Exercise
According to Harvard Health, aerobic exercise is important because it increases your endurance and relaxes the walls of your blood vessels. Additionally, they lower your blood pressure, burn body fat, lower blood sugar and even balance out your cholesterol.
Harvard suggests 150 minutes per week, which is supported through research. Examples include jogging, walking, swimming, or even dancing.
2. Strength Training
Strength training is amazing for not only your health, but for your metabolism. The more muscle you have the more calories your body burns and uses for energy. Additionally, Harvard cites that it’s great for cardiovascular health and inflammation.
Examples include squats, lunges, sit-ups, and pull-ups.
3. Stretching
Stretching is so helpful for our flexibility, which is lost as we age. Maintaining a stretching routine is very helpful because it maintains our flexibility and aids in inflammation reduction of sore and tight muscles.
Examples include single knee rotations, downward-facing dogs, or other stretches.
4. Balance Exercises
As we age, we lose our balance, which can cause us to end up falling. Falling can be quite dangerous. Thankfully, Rachel Wilson, a physical therapist who works at Harvard, explains that balancing exercises can help build back our balance.
Examples include tai chi and yoga.