What's the Best Exercise For You?
To think that every type of exercise is going to give you the same outcome is like betting on all of the horses in the Melbourne Cup and expecting them all to win ... it's very very unlikely to be true.
Exercise itself incorporates so many different forms of movement from slow formed stretching in yoga, tai chi and somatic exercises to the other end of the spectrum with high intensity and high impact mixed martial arts, body building and wrestling.
Then we also need to take into account the different phases of life and the changes that makes to your body.
Maybe you were born with a disability or had an injury and now have limited motion. You could be pregnant or going through peri-menopause whereby the changes in hormone levels can have a massive effect on the body. Maybe you are young and strong and feeling in peak shape with your body, or you could be in your elder years where the body just simply isn't what it used to be.
If we can attempt to break down the exercises into types,
then we can look at the pro's and con's of each so you can determine what suits you at your current stage in life.
SLOW AND GENTLE MOVEMENTS
Examples - yoga, tai chi, qigong, somatic, stretching, pilates
Pro's - Stabilise nervous system, muscle toning, increase flexibility, strengthen core
Con's - Doesn't increase heart rate, low muscle building, brings fatigue to surface, can overstretch and cause injury
LOW INTENSITY EXERCISE
Examples - walking, stair master, biking, rowing, golf, planks
Pro's - Decrease injury risk, boost mood, burn fat, improve sleep, recommended for diabetics, heart efficiency
Con's - less effective in building bone density, doesn't raise heart rate, not building muscle mass
TEAM SPORTS
Examples - football, soccer, netball, basketball, volleyball, tennis
Pro's - Social connections, improve mood, increase heart rate, muscle building, improve sleep
Con's - Physically demanding, increase in injury/collisions, increase competiveness
HIGH INTENSITY MOVEMENTS
Examples - running, aerobic exercise, swimming, HIIT workout, martial arts
Pro's - Improve stamina and strength, keeps your body younger for it's age, burn fat, improve mood
Con's - Stress on the Nervous System (increase coritisol), impact on joints and connective tissues, increase digestive issues
HIGH IMPACT MOVEMENTS
Examples - Jumping, Skipping, Zumba, Wrestling, Boxing
Pro's - Strengthen muscles and bones, increased energy and stamina, improve heart health, stress relief
Con's - Inflames arthritis, can cause injury, stress on joints and ligaments
This list is not exhaustive by any means, simply meant to give you an idea of what you could try depending on why you are wanting to exercise. See what works for you, maybe try a few different ones until you feel a good fit.
