We’ll come right out and say it: incorporating regular exercise in your routine reduces your risk of disease and improves the quality and longevity of your life. While that may seem biased coming from a fitness studio, the power of exercise has been recognized for thousands of years.
Prescribing Exercise is Primitive
The folklore of medicine is one of the most ancient aspects of healing, first suggested by primitive physicians who would treat a person whole, from soul to body. Even if these treatments lacked evidence of efficacy, the power of belief would make the patient feel healed (enter placebo effect). What these physicians may not have realized is there has always been a remedy to internal and external woes: exercise. Despite being overshadowed by Western history, Susruta, a physician from 600 B.C., is notably the first medical figure to include exercise in his prescriptions to prevent and treat diseases.
Physical Activity vs. Exercise
Physical activity refers to steady, daily movement including household chores, walking to and from the store, and jobs for those who work on their feet. Our ancestors performed copious amounts of physical activity just to survive, but in our current age of convenience, supplementing with exercise is key.
What differentiates physical activity and exercise is intention and intensity. Exercise is structured aerobic activity that elevates the heart rate and amplifies the breath. In the words of Plato, “lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.”
The Preventative Approach
It’s much more difficult to integrate regular exercise when there’s pre-existing injury or illness, so starting early (while younger and less prone to biological weakness) is ideal for developing a coherent relationship with fitness. Many of the most common diseases and illnesses that lead to death do not have cures other than their prevention.
Regular exercise has the power to:
- reduce mortality and the risk of recurrent breast cancer by approx. 50%
- lower the risk of colon cancer by over 60%
- reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by approximately 40%
- reduce the incidence of heart disease and high blood pressure by approximately 40%
- lower the risk of stroke by 27%
- lower the risk of developing type II diabetes by 58%
And those are just the heavy hitters! Exercise alone can improve sleep patterns, amplify your energy, and result in a more positive outlook on life.
Customize Your Movement
Exercise looks different for everyone, so educating yourself in the right ways to workout for your body will lead to better results and a greater likelihood that you’ll continue your fitness commitment.
Meeting with a trainer to share goals, concerns, and limitations is a safe way to plot out your ideal forms of exercise. For those who are looking to make exercise more a part of their lifestyle, joining a fitness studio with myriad offerings is a great way to find your niche. Here, take a free introductory HIIT class to try on the BMF lifestyle.
BMF Your Way to a Better Life
Being a BMFer means you’re on the track toward a longer and higher quality life! We recognize that one size doesn’t fit all—so our group fitness classes in Plano are varied and constantly evolving, similar to our group fitness classes in Fort Worth thanks to our talented team of trainers who are committed to change the way people see exercise as work. We’re here to make exercise one of the most exhilarating and fulfilling aspects of your life. Get started today and sign up for a free class on us!