The short term and long term benefits of exercise include:
- Improving your mood with naturally produced dopamine and serotonin
- Long lasting improvement in your brain functioning
- Increased attention and focus
- Quicker reaction times
- Better memory function, including improved long-term memory
- Stimulating the development of brand new brain cells
- Reversing the cognitive decline from ageing
How much exercise should I aim for?
Experts suggest we exercise 3 to 4 times each week for at least 30 minutes, keeping our heart rates in the heart health zone. Just like your five (portions of fruit and vegetables) a day, your four (sessions of exercise) a week are designed to make sure your body gets the things it needs to work well.
The heart health zone helps you understand how hard you should train – pushing yourself enough to make a difference while keeping sufficiently below your maximum safe heartbeat rate.
Your personal recommended rate depends on your age and your current fitness level. Calculate your own heart rate training zone here.
What sort of exercise works best?
We believe in holistic exercise for mind, body and soul. Exercise sessions can and should make you feel happy, not just in the glow of achievement afterwards, but while you’re doing it.
We wouldn’t be without our regular hot yoga sessions, as the heat of the studio and intensity of the exercise helps us stay in our heart rate sweet spots. Any of your favourite sports and activities can count towards one of your four a week, providing the intensity is within your recommended zone.
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