Did you know 30-60 minutes of daily exercise can help you stay healthy?
If there's one thing COVID-19 has taught us all, it is the importance of taking care of yourself, both mentally and physically. The global pandemic has caused major disruptions in our lives, changing our routines. The majority of us work from home and that means we are far less active than we may have been in the past.
1 in 4 Canadian adults struggle with weight gain and several adults suffer from heart-related diseases, putting them in grave danger of COVID-19 complications. The estimated value for Adult Obesity Rate in Canada is 51.9%. This is one of the many reasons why it’s important to pay attention to your health and physical fitness.
Here are some of the benefits of fitness - especially in a pandemic:
1.Exercise boosts the immune system
We all know that the healthier your immune system, the better your body can resist infections such as Covid-19. And good exercise strengthens your immune system. See your immune system as your body’s natural defense system, protecting you from bacteria, parasites and viruses. A healthy immune system shields you by preventing antigens from entering your body but a weak one makes you exposed to cold and infections.
2. Exercise prevents unhealthy weight gain
Another reason fitness is important during the pandemic is that it keeps you in good shape. Unhealthy weight puts you at risk of suffering from high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke, body pain and diabetes.
Working from the comfort of your home means long hours of sitting and reduced time of movement. You’re likely to spend a lot of time behind your laptop but adding a fitness class to your schedule can help you shed off those extra calories.
3.Exercise reduces stress and anxiety
Covid-19 pushed a lot of us into a state of depression, loneliness, stress, and anxiety. Zoom meetings have replaced in-person contact. Elbow bumps have become the new handshake. We have to maintain some form of distance if we must meet as a group.
All these new changes affect our moods. Canadians are feeling more sad, depressed and anxious. 54% of Canadians feel lonely because of limited contact as compared to 45% in November 2020.
Engaging in physical activities boosts your mood and reduces stress. In the long run, exercise improves your social and emotional well-being. Good mental health is fundamental to overall health and well-being.
4.Exercise improves sleep
When the mind is restless, insomnia is bound to happen. However, regular exercise makes you fall asleep faster and improves your sleep quality.
Engaging in regular exercise increases blood flow throughout the body. Staying active not only reduces body fat and inflammation but also helps to fight away diseases and infections
. In a time like this, engaging in physical activities is important especially for older adults and individuals susceptible to diabetes, arthritis or heart-related diseases. It not only keeps you in shape, but also improves your balance, gives you more energy, makes you more flexible and mobile and strengthens your heart. Taking a few minutes of exercise, a day can help you avoid these health risks. Studies reveal you should get about 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise a week. You can engage in some high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts or cardio kickboxing class.
How Do I Stay Active ?
Below are some tips to help you stay active :
Get outside as often as you can
Make your workout more fun and interesting
Try something new
Engage in non-contact activities
Work on improving your general fitness
Clean and disinfect your workout equipment
Don’t exercise if you have fever or cough or find it hard to breathe
Practice physical distancing when you go for a walk
While the pandemic may have changed your lifestyle activities, do not allow it to disrupt your personal fitness goals. At a time when stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness are at their peak, maintaining a fitness routine can keep you in check.
Join us for our outdoor classes - view our schedule here: TEMA Summer Schedule
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