3 types of exercise should everyone be doing

Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Not only does it help with weight management and fat loss but it also has a number of important additional benefits. Regular exercise has been shown to help boost immune function, elevate mood, improve bone density and minimize skeletal muscle loss into older age.

When planning your weekly workouts it is important to include exercises that contribute to your cardiovascular health, strength and balance. Incorporating each of these elements into your workout program will give you the best results both in the short term and the long term. Let's talk about each of these types of training in more detail.

Aerobic exercise

Aerobic exercise is also referred to as cardiovascular training. It is one of the most well-known and well-practiced forms of exercise and it targets your aerobic energy system (the system that requires oxygen).

Aerobic exercise is moderate to vigorously intensive and requires the heart to work harder, meaning your heart rate increases during exercise. It also requires the body to use lots of oxygen to keep the muscles working effectively. Popular aerobic exercise includes running, brisk walking, cycling, swimming and using cardiovascular equipment in the gym, such as elliptical trainers or rowers.

Strength training

Strength training is also called resistance training or weightlifting. The main focus of this type of training is to build or maintain skeletal muscle mass, strength, and power. Strength training is important throughout our lives, including as we age and start to lose muscle mass.

Lifting weights can aid fat loss, boost your metabolism, protect your bones, improve your mood and help to regulate your hormone levels.

Stretching and balance

Stretching helps to maintain your flexibility and mobility around the joints, which is essential for all aspects of your life, not just in the gym. It reduces muscle tightness and stiffness and makes it easier for you to perform day-to-day tasks.

Working on your balance becomes particularly important as you get older to prevent falls and injuries. Make sure to add a short stretching and mobility routine into your weekly workout regime alongside some simple unilateral exercises to improve your balance.

Remember to check in with your healthcare provider before starting any new exercise program, try different exercises to find the ones you enjoy the most and switch up your routines to keep your workouts interesting. Finding forms of exercise that you genuinely love will help you to stay on track to reach your goals and stay healthy.