Early Childhood was a time of play for everyone – whether you went to school or not. Hence, physical activity was not a big deal, especially during the early years of school life. There was a definite time scheduled in the weekly timetable to engage in outdoor physical activity or sport. One also had to endure an exercise drill, weekly or sometimes daily, apart from the ‘games’ period; not to mention the days and weeks before the sports day being spent with march-past drills. Many who take some serious liking for some specific sport early in school began to compete at various levels and some continue even through their adult life. However, due to the nature of today's occupations being majorly desk-bound with the luxuries provided by the digital world, a sedentary lifestyle is prominent among all ages. There is very little or no motivation to involve physical fitness in daily routines unless mandated by a physician or some threatening sickness. Sometimes when there is some motivation, other factors such as a busy work schedule or even overburdening domestic responsibilities make it difficult to adhere to such a routine.

Nevertheless, many groups of people have committed to a routine fitness schedule, in spite of their busy schedules. For some it is for weight loss, for others, cardio health, for some others it is bodybuilding. Some have moved it to an altogether different dimension with creative forms such as dancing. Elderly groups of people also routinely engage in physical activity such as walking, either  around parks or on the streets. All this begs us to define the term exercise to move forward in the right direction.

“Exercise can be defined as any bodily activity that improves or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness” (Kylasov A, 2011). According to Kylasov’s definition, any activity involving movement by our body can be termed as exercise, as long as the goal is health or wellness of the whole being, meaning a healthy body and a healthy mind. Let us briefly discuss the manyenefits of exercising on our body and mind.

Exercise And the Body:

Exercising ensures that the entire system is in its best form of functioning. It's almost like servicing your vehicle, whose, longevity  is determined by periodic and quality of servicing. Exercising lubricates the bones and flexes the muscles through movement and stretching. It burns unhealthy fat in the body, promotes overall heart's health and also maintains a healthy weight.

Physical exercise helps avoid cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and even some forms of cancer. It builds bone and muscle strength, thus decreasing the likelihood of falls and providing good stability. The circulatory system also saves one from hypertension or any imbalanced circulation. Studies suggest that people who engage in physical activity before beginning their day are more energetic, active, and cheerful throughout the day, thus contributing to more tolerance and productivity during work. Along with significant betterment in the quality of life, people develop a more robust immunity, agile mental health, and increased longevity of life. A long life is even more good when it also a healthy life.

Exercise And The Brain:

Exercising greatly impacts the brain that promotes the life in the body. A Columbia University suggests that performing exercises that get your heart pumping significantly alerts parts of the brain responsible for your memory and learning, sending a huge and intense amount of signals to the hippocampus of your brain. If you ever find your brain clouded and inhibiting your thinking, exercise is said to unwind your brain and enable clarity. Maybe, next time you could just step out for a short work to get more clarity. Masley S et al. (2009) presented a study evidencing physical activity prevents cognitive deficits and promotes frontal lobe activity. The frontal lobe of our brain is associated with mental speed, attention, focus and cognitive flexibility.

As humans age, the volume of the brain is said to decrease in volume naturally, also called brain atrophy, thus making many functions of the brain associated with memory and thinking ineffectual. In their study, Killgore et al. (2013) assert that regular physical activity can prevent the shrinkage of the volume of the brain while simultaneously increasing the volume of the brain (through regeneration of new brain cells), thus enhancing the cognitive functioning even in the elderly. That’s another reason to start exercising.

Exercise And The Mind:

Exercising is also said to increase your willpower and the ability to manage your emotions effectively. Multiple studies claim that physical activity is one of the most effective antidotes to major depressive disorders and is recommended even to prevent relapse of depression. Clinical Psychology, Science and Practice (2006) prescribes exercise to be used by the therapist as an intervention method. James Blumenthal, a clinical psychologist, stated that the people who are actively engaging in physical activity to maintain good mental health compared to inactive people, experience a decreased likelihood of depressive symptoms. Even a 10-minute brisk walk or exercise releases endorphins, a chemical similar to morphine, triggering a positive high feeling. These chemicals interact with the pain receptors in the brain, reducing the perception of pain. Not only is the tolerance to real pain increased, but your self-esteem and willpower are also boosted, enabling you to thrive through difficulties.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (chemical) produced by the brain responsible for the happy feeling, regulation of the sleep/wake cycle and appetite. Illicit drugs taken to reach the ecstatic feeling are caused by the excess production of this happy chemical. A deficiency in serotonin is one of the major causes of depressive symptoms, which can be triggered by various factors. Whatever might be the trigger for lower production or running out of serotonin, exercising is elementary in inducing the production of this chemical.

No matter, whatever the reason be – body, brain, or mind; exercising is a common factor to boost the health quotient of all. The simplest form of exercise is walking, and the best form is playing with friends. Let’s walk for a healthy us or even better – let’s play.

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Posted: 3 years, 5 months ago

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