Ready to start your journey to becoming physically and mentally fit? Then create a workout plan that includes activities that can benefit both your body and your mind. Some of the best exercises to keep your body and mind active include:
Aerobic exercise
Aerobic exercises, such as cycling, swimming and jogging, may not be the first activities you think of when you want to relax. However, aerobic exercise is highly recommended because it not only makes you physically fit, but it is also good for your mental health.
This is because aerobic exercise can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. These exercises can get your heart pumping and release endorphins, which can help improve your mood and reduce stress.
Swimming
Swimming is a fun and effective exercise for the body, as it can significantly improve your cardiovascular health and fitness, as well as your muscle tone, without impacting on your joints. If you want to maximise this exercise’s ability to burn fat, it is highly recommended that you incorporate fast laps and intervals into your routine.
Swimming can also engage your mind by focusing on your breathing while encouraging rhythmic movement. It is hypnotic, which can help drown out your stressful thoughts. Exercising in the water also leaves you feeling energised and rejuvenated afterwards.
Yoga
Anyone who is into yoga will probably agree that this activity can benefit both the body and the mind. With its variety of poses and movements, you can expect yoga to help strengthen and stretch your entire body. It would be best for you to perform yoga poses that focus more on stretching, as these can improve your flexibility.
Yoga is also good for the mind as it involves slow, controlled and calm movements. It acts as the ultimate exercise for the body and mind, focusing on posture and breathing. It also has meditative qualities that contribute to better mental health.
Tai Chi
If you want to focus on engaging your mind as well as your body, you might want to try Tai Chi. If you are unfamiliar with tai chi, it is a form of martial arts in which movements are performed in slow motion. This means that it can gently exercise your body through a full range of motion. It is a beneficial exercise as it can help improve your strength, circulation and flexibility.
The mind can also benefit from tai chi as it focuses internally on balance, deep breathing, movement control and form. All of these components make Tai Chi popular when it comes to calming and influencing the mind.
Pilates
If you want to improve your flexibility and core strength, Pilates is an effective exercise for both body and mind that can replace yoga. It uses controlled movements that mainly target the core, which is made up of muscles in the lower back, hips and abdomen.
Pilates is almost identical to yoga in that it also focuses on improving flexibility. Both activities focus on breathing while promoting better circulation. However, note that Pilates focuses more on building physical strength, while yoga focuses more on the mental and spiritual aspects of this mind-body exercise.
