Benefits of Movement

In one of my middle school favorite songs, Ludacris said "When I move, you move. Just like that!" Let's start using the word movement when describing physical activity. I've found that many people do not like working out and sometimes hearing the word is a turn off. So l'll be using the word movement throughout this post. Im going to hit on five health benefits of moving your body to give you a better idea of the "why" behind your movement.

1. Improves Brain Health

Have you ever considered that doing exercise improves her brain health?

Movement helps your brain to retain memory. The hippocampus is a complex brain structure that is responsible for learning and memory. Research has shown that when people exercise more often they see more significant improvements in the hippocampus. As a result, an individual's memory improves. Your brain can actually experience physical changes as well. Exercise promotes neuroplasticity which is your brain's ability to form new neural connections. So think about it this way, the more physical activity you do, the stronger your brain health will be. Pretty cool stuff!

2. Helps Manage Weight

Are you the type of person who only moves your body to lose weight?

Of course, you can lose weight depending on how often you exercise, but consider this: intentionally moving your body also helps you manage your weight. If you are just starting a new workout (movement) routine, it may be a better idea not to focus on losing weight. I've noticed that when we hyper-focus on the end goal of losing weight, we miss the opportunity to focus on creating a new lifestyle. Remember, our health journey is not a destination; it is simply a journey. Taking one day at a time to make a lifestyle change will be more beneficial than doing a time-based diet or fitness plan.

3. Makes you feel happier

After you move your body, have you ever noticed that you feel a little bit happier?

Exercise can positively impact your mood. Research shows that people who exercise 2-3 times a week experience significantly less depression, anger, and stress. Aerobic exercises produce endorphins or "feel good" chemicals that in turn make you feel more happy throughout the day. Moving your body is essential to regulating your mood. It also helps improve concentration and alertness. Even if you don't feel like it, consider the positive impact movement has on your mood and test the theory. Try it out!

4. Aids in Sleep Quality

Who else loves some good sleep? Why do you think sleep is important to your well being?

Exercise, or movement, can reset your circadian clock. It is important to workout at a time that fits your circadian clock/rhythm. If you workout during a time that doesn't fit, you are likely disrupting your sleep-wake cycle. Thus, making it harder for you to fall asleep when your body is normally ready to do so. Have you ever heard of The Sleep Doctor, Dr. Michael Breus? If not, he is a renowned sleep medicine expert who created a Chronotype

Take the Sleep Quiz here!

quiz to help people better understand when their body functions best. Truth is: our body is programmed to function better at certain times of the day. Check out this link on the right to find out what your body really needs!

5. Increases Pain Tolerance

What is your pain threshold?

As an individual workouts more strenuously, your body naturally releases endorphins. Therefore, slightly dampening the levels of discomfort in one's body. Quite interesting. So, research suggests that the longer we workout, the greater our tolerance for discomfort can grow. Do you find yourself feeling some level of pain when you stand up after sitting for too long? When you have created a sedentary lifestyle, you risk increasing your sensitivity to pain. Now, I am not recommending you workout more to strengthen your tolerance to pain. However, if you constantly notice muscles tightness or pain, moving your body more often is worth prioritizing.

You may be wondering how to incorporate more movement into your daily habits. If I was at the beginning of my journey, I would start with #1 & #2 below on the left. From there, I would incorporate more forms of exercise with a little more intensity with #3-5.

Forms of Exercise	Examples
Walking	​Treadmill workout, Skaters
Low Impact Exercises	Pilates, Jogging, Hiking
Aerobic Exercises	Water Aerobics, Zumba, Dance
Strength Training	Body Pump class, Cross Fit class
HIIT Workouts	​Mountain Climbers, Burpees, Jump Lunges

I am not only a Nutrition & Wellness coach, I am also a fitness instructor at two gyms: FUEL Fitness & O2 Fitness. I teach Body Pump and another class called Strength. I am very familiar with these types of workouts and I highly recommend them. However, there are so many ways that you can move your body. I hope the chart above teaches you that the options are limitless. Start where you want and stay committed.

If you need a coach who can help educate and empower you, Im here to help. Click the button bellow to set up a free consultation and I will follow up with you from there.

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