Exercise refers to the movement of your body and engaging in physical activity to work your body to stay healthy. Exercise enhances physical fitness and is performed for various reasons such as improving strength, developing muscles, preventing aging, weight loss or simply for enjoyment. You can exercise in gyms or even at home using gym equipment. Many people even love exercising outdoors to socialize, assemble in groups, and improve their well-being and mental health. The fitness industry has grown incredibly over the past few years while undergoing considerable structural change. With the emergence of 24-hour gyms, there has been an increase in gym memberships. The Australian fitness industry generates over two billion dollars in revenue annually. During the Covid-19 pandemic, due to the restrictions by the country, many people switched to exercising at home with the help of online fitness programmes, youtube videos, and gym equipment.
In Australia, the gyms and fitness centre industry had grown by 5.7% from 2014 – 2019, according to IBIS World. As consumers gravitate more towards fitness, the industry is valued at nearly $100 billion globally.
Some of the benefits of exercise are :
Exercising helps to control weight
Regular exercising can help prevent excess weight gain and also maintain weight loss. Engaging in physical activities causes you to burn calories according to the intensity of the activity. Frequent trips to the gym are great, and there’s no need to worry if you can’t find a huge amount of time to exercise every day; any amount of activity is better than nothing at all. To enjoy the benefits of exercise, try working out for 10 minutes every day or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Exercise has been shown to increase metabolism, which can burn more calories.
It can increase your happiness
Regular exercise has been shown to increase a person’s happiness and decrease the feeling of anxiety, depression or worry. It changes the parts of the brain that are linked to anxiety and stress. It is also known to increase brain sensitivity for the norepinephrine and serotonin, which relieve depression. When you exercise, there is an increase in the production of endorphins which produce positive feelings. In a study, exercise significantly decreased the feelings of anxiety and depression among the 20 participants. When exercising regularly, you may also feel better about yourself and your appearance, which is a great boost for your confidence and self-esteem.
Combats various health conditions
Being active helps boost your HDL cholesterol which is the good cholesterol, and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. Exercise helps prevent or manage health concerns such as stroke, falls, arthritis, depression, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and many certain types of cancer.
Energy booster
Exercise tends to be an energy booster for many, including those with various health conditions. It is known to reduce fatigue and can significantly combat Chronic fatigue syndrome and other illnesses. When exercising, oxygen and nutrients are delivered to your tissues to help your cardiovascular system function more efficiently.
Good for muscles and bones
Exercise is vital for building and maintaining strength in muscles and bones. Activities such as weight lifting can help stimulate muscle building when it is paired with adequate protein intake. The hormones that have the ability to absorb amino acids are released when you exercise, which helps them reduce their breakdown.
People tend to lose muscle and mass function as they age, increasing their risk of injury. Regular exercise is essential to reduce muscle loss and maintain strength with age. When you are younger, exercise helps build bone density in addition to preventing osteoporosis later in life.
Brings sparks back into your sex life
Regular exercise can increase energy levels and increase confidence about your physical appearance, boosting your sex life. Men who regularly exercise are less likely to erectile dysfunction compared to men who do not exercise.
Exercise has incredible benefits that can improve various aspects of your life, including better sleep, skin, and energy boost. Remember that you don’t need hours of exercise; just 15 minutes a day can lead to a big difference.
