Exercise leads to a healthier lifestyle, and the American Heart Association recommends we exercise at least 150 minutes a week to experience health benefits. But some of us don’t have the time or motivation. But don’t fret – we’ve found you five easy exercises for improved health.
(Note: If you haven’t exercised for some time or have health problems, make sure to check with your doctor before trying them.)
Pilates. Pilates is a type of exercise that strengthens your core, abs and lower back. Other benefits include improved posture, balance and flexibility. Pilates conditions the whole body, which enables you to further enjoy activities and sports, and prevent injury. That’s why many athletes do Pilates during training. Take a look at these guides for Pilates exercises.
Yoga. The good news is you don’t have to hit your nearest gym for yoga exercises – you can do them right at home! Doing yoga may help improve muscle strength, bone health and mood, as well as boost immunity and lower blood pressure, among other benefits.
A new study also shows yoga can prevent or reverse the effects of chronic pain on the brain. Dr. M. Catherine Bushnell, scientific director of the Division of Intramural Research at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, said in a statement: “Practicing yoga has the opposite effect on the brain as does chronic pain… Some gray matter increases in yogis correspond to duration of yoga practice, which suggests there is a causative link between yoga and gray matter increases.”
Kettlebells. OK, so maybe kettlebell workouts aren’t the easiest on the list, but they are quick and provide many benefits. Kettlebell workouts make you stronger, help you lose weight faster and improve posture. The workout also creates dense muscle mass, which burns calories from fat and increases your metabolism. New to kettlebell workouts? Check out this guide to get you started.
Pull-ups. Not only can you do them anywhere, but pull-ups also strengthen the upper body, back and biceps, and burn fat, as well as increase intensity, which helps build muscle. For a great tutorial on pull-ups, go here.
T-Tapp. T-Tapp, created by Teresa Tapp, is a sequence of muscle movements that may help to strengthen the spine, boost your metabolism and aid digestion, among others. T-Tapp also helps detoxify the body, makes you more energetic and increases heart rate, according to this review. Buy the tutorial here.
