Steve Haywood Health & Fitness

An article by Linda Haywood © 2007 Steve Haywood Health & Fitness

“Physically active adults have a 20-30% reduced risk of premature death and up to 50% reduced risk of developing major chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancers.” (Chief Medical Officer 2004)

Physical Benefits of Exercise:

• Strengthens the heart
• Improves the circulation
• Decreases blood pressure
• Removes toxins and waste products
• Exercisers lose weight by metabolic rate
• Encourages good movement of the gut system
• Deepens the breathing so improving the exchange of gases
• Moves the joints (for the less abled)
• Stretches the muscles
• Can decrease pain and stiffness
• Improves suppleness
• Improves strength
• Improves endurance
• Helps to decrease amounts of adrenaline in the body thereby reducing the symptoms of anxiety. This corresponds to the “fight or flight” response in the body, which demands a physical reaction to stress.
• Tones the body
• Improves resistance to infection
• Improves posture
• Improves appetite
• Improves co-ordination

Psychological Benefits of Exercise:

• Gives a sense of well-being
• Lifts the mood owing to the release of endorphins -natural painkillers and anti-depressants.
• Decreases anxiety
• Improves social contact
• Can relieve frustration
• Gives a sense of expansion and openness to both mind and body
• It’s fun!