As I mentioned in the video, fitness is something that we are all aware of and we have knowledge of some of the benefits that it gives us, however, when looking a little more deeply into it you can see that even 20 minutes a day can alter your overall health and clarity immediately. Leaving you happy, motivated and ready to go each and every day. Our body needs energy to function, both consciously and subconsciously. The easiest and most efficient way to do this is to get up and start moving!

I know that adding exercise into your daily schedule can be a bit frustrating and hard for some. You’re worried about your kids or your job or any other responsibilities that you may have. BUT, this is your opportunity to do something for yourself for a change. To better both your health and your mind so you are able to think more rational, clearer, and have a better understanding of what’s going on around you. Dedicating some time each day, whether in the morning or at night, for yourself and your needs allows you to be at the top of your game ALWAYS!

You can hit the gym, do small workouts in the comfort of your own home, go for walks around the block or even just start to choose the less easy options (ie. taking the stairs instead of the elevator). The best part about this is that you are able to alter it to however suits you and your lifestyle best.

So, what exactly does fitness do for our bodies? We have been told since we were children to go outside and play, and even as adults to keep moving but other than knowing the basic fact of “it’s good for you”, we are never really told exactly why it is so good for us, or what it does for our bodies. Luckily for you, I’ve done the research and you may be just as shocked as I was when you find out the benefits!

Muscles:

Every move you make requires muscles… duh right? But our muscles use glucose and ATP’s (adenosine triphosphate) for our contraction in movement. Now, in order to create these ATP’s, you need oxygen. While you exercise, you notice that you tend to breathe a little harder, thus allowing your lung capacity to expand in order to allow more oxygen in which allows these ATP’s to be created in large numbers at a time. ATP’s are the energy transporters for all of your metabolic activity. So, by creating more of these, you will not only have more energy/motivation, but you will also be able to do these tasks with much more ease as time goes on. These are very important if you are trying to lose weight because without their production, lactate will begin to form which is what makes your body feel heavy, decreases your motivation and causes you to start gaining weight.

Heart:

Beating subconsciously always and keeping us alive, the heart is the most important part of our bodies, but it too is fragile and without the proper care, we can cause damage to ourselves. While you are working out, using your muscles, expanding your lungs, allowing that overflow of oxygen to come in, your heart is working double time beating faster than ever. By doing exercises though, you are helping your heart out, allowing the blood circulation to flow with a little more ease throughout your body. Which in returns allows your heart to pump a little bit easier. If you are someone who suffers from high blood pressure, just by doing some exercises every day you are decreasing your resting heart rate which decreases your blood pressure due to the new “healthy” blood vessels forming. Something so small that you can do daily, can eliminate your health problems and return you to a healthy state, why not give it a go? You owe this much to yourself don’t you?!

Bones:

This one was very interesting to me when I was reading, but it does make a lot of sense. When you are working out, as your muscles are growing and becoming stronger, they act as a protector to your bones. As we age, our bone density decreases and we become very frail and brittle. Just by strengthening those muscles, it helps you maintain bone mass and eliminates the opportunity for osteoporosis to take over. Another illness cured just from moving your body a little bit more than you usually would!

Workouts:

I shared with you guys my daily workout routine in the video and I mentioned that it only takes me about 5-6 minutes every morning to complete. Dr’s recommend 20 minutes of exercise daily in order to receive all of the benefits in the proper portion. For most of you, thinking of doing a workout can be a daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! You don’t have to go to the gym, lift weights, or go for long runs for it to be considered a “workout”. As long as you’re doing movement to increase your heart rate and to get you breathing a little bit heavier that’s all it takes! If you spend one day observing your normal day-to-day life, you will notice that there are a lot of opportunities right in front of you! Maybe taking the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator, taking the dog for a walk in the afternoon/evening and walking to and from destinations instead of driving. These are all great examples of exercise, and in a smaller, less demanding form. By making smaller changes like this daily, you are only helping yourself and your body. Who wouldn’t want that?!

If you enjoy doing planned workouts, whether it is at the gym or in the comfort of your own home, create a workout plan for yourself. With this, you have the ability to make it as long or as short as you like and you can target the specific area that you want to work on. I have created many at-home workouts for my students and have seen the results in just a short amount of time! Their stamina is way better, their body movement is more fluid and they seem to be more happy and motivated to learn and grow.

If you would like advice on a at home workout plan, or want some help creating one, email me and we can talk! I’m here for you guys and am happy to help you get started on your journey! Let’s get those endorphins pumping so we can live happier and healthier lives!

Cold Baths/Showers:

As crazy as these may seem, the rewards are worth it! The natural benefits, that I talked about in the video, are a huge plus but the overall feeling that you get when you get out is almost indescribable. You are awake and motivated for the next several hours and you feel unstoppable!

If you are on a time crunch, cold showers are also an option. Although these can feel wayyyy colder due to the constant changing of water, the effects are still the same. I have started taking cold baths/showers and then afterwards taking my usual warm shower. Not only does the warm water feel amazing, but when you are done you feel brand new, clean, motivated and ready to conquer anything that life throws at you!

I challenge you to give the cold bath a try. You don’t have to stay in for long, but even 30 seconds will give you a world of benefits!

If you have done this, how do you feel when you get in vs. when you get out?

Fitness is something that can never go out of style. It’s a small amount of dedicated time everyday to help yourself and your well being. With the craziness that the world is today, we at least owe it to ourselves to be happy and healthy don’t we? There is no time for sickness and life’s too short to have to worry about these burdens. We should be able to enjoy every second of our lives living and doing the things that we want to. Now is your opportunity to take your life back!

 

 

Up Next: Body & Fitness To-Do’s to Clarify Both Your Mind & Body Pt. 2: Diet, Vitamins & Supplements

 

 

If you have any topics you would like me to cover, let me know! Also, remember to follow theclarityofmind.com to get updates on new blog posts! Stay up to date by following my social media accounts!