Fitness trends come and go, some of which change the face of the industry. Science makes regular advances in the medical and biological fields, including in physical activity and its effects on the body. In one 2012 study, the National Center for Biotechnology Information, a division of the federal government, reported that physicians and psychiatrists need to encourage their patients to exercise regularly as an integral part of their physical health. Since these professionals are in a unique position to provide sage counsel to their patients, they should take advantage of the opportunity to encourage them to become more fit.

While some people might opt for exercising on their own, group exercise classes can provide significant motivation, especially for women who enjoy the social aspect of working out. See what Flow Fitness Boutique can offer you that a standard gym can’t.

The combination of improving eating habits and regular commitment to a group fitness class can provide women with better overall health and a greater quality of life, giving them more energy for their daily tasks, including work, child care and other responsibilities.

Fitness: An Effective Way to Avoid Disease

In 2016, Weill Cornell Medical College offered a seminar on medicine as exercise to students. The class addressed the topic of preventative medicine and how doctors should advise their patients when it comes to exercise. One of the instructors observed that the medical field spends trillions of dollars treating preventable illnesses. He further stated that medicine is a field that focuses on treatment, not prevention. For example, type 2 diabetes, one of the most costly diseases in the nation, is mostly avoidable.

Adults need 75 minutes of vigorous activity or 150 minutes of moderate activity, which breaks down to five, 30-minutes sessions per week. However, physical activity does not necessarily mean heading to a trendy fitness class at the gym, although that might be a great option. Walking your puppy, taking a dance class and gardening are just some of the options that can start you moving. However, if you can’t squeeze in 150 minutes of exercise each week, don’t fret. Any amount of exercise can provide some benefits. For this reason, the class schedule at Flow Fitness Boutique offers many options for each fitness level and time availability.

Preventative Benefits of Exercise

Studies have found that exercise provides the following benefits, although this list is far from exhaustive:

• Reduces the risk of early death for all ages, ethnicity and races. Physical activity is one of the very few lifestyle choices with such a great impact.
• Lowers the risk factors for some diseases, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Metabolic health refers to obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose intolerance. Aerobic exercise counters these health issues in as little as two hours a week.
• Even if you have already developed type 2 diabetes, you can regulate your blood sugar levels with physical activity.
• Cuts the occurrence of chronic diseases, including depression, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease and some cancers
• Provides better overall physical fitness: endurance, muscle strength and aerobic capacity
• Improves musculoskeletal health, which refers to bones, muscles and joints – This increases in importance as people age. As little as 90 minutes per week of cardio slows down the aging process of these important parts of the body. Exercise also reduces the risk of hip fractures.
• More positive mental health, including better cognitive function and lower rates of depression
• Better general overall physical function, i.e., the ability to do normal activities on a daily basis. Energy balance correlates with obesity and refers to how much food or calories you consume and how many you expend via physical activity. Everyone differs as to how their bodies balance these functions for weight loss or even weight control. The amount of necessary energy increases when someone is trying to keep off a substantial amount of weight.
• Decreased risk of sudden heart attacks. Increased exercise correlates with a significant reduction in cardio disease, starting at 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. The benefits increase when the amount of exercise goes up to 200 minutes per week. Pregnant women also enjoy cardio benefits if they exercise with little if any risk to themselves or their baby.
• Reduced risk of other injuries, especially sports related.
• Lower body fat percentage. You can reduce your body fat percentage by exercising just 90 minutes per week.
• Improvement in rheumatic and joint conditions. As little as 130 minutes of exercise weekly can help those who struggle with these issues to manage pain and improve their quality of life. However, those with these conditions should avoid excessive physical exercise, which can increase the risk of injuries. Muscle-bearing activities, such as Circuit Training or even a Gentle Toning class from Flow Fitness, improve overall strength and muscle mass and help slow down muscle loss that accompanies aging.
• Strength for daily abilities and help preventing falls. A person uses their muscles throughout the day for basic life activities, such as playing with children, personal care, general home cleaning and grocery shopping. Aerobic exercise gives you the stamina and energy to keep up with these activities . Active adults who participate in as little as an hour of walking/cardio activity plus 90 minutes of muscle-strengthening activity weekly can boost their confidence and strength to help prevent falls. Muscle strengthening and aerobic activities also benefit those who already have functional limitations.
• Lessen the risk of cancer. Exercise lowers the risk of several kinds of cancer, including colon and breast cancer, in as little as 3 hours and 30 minutes per week. Some studies appear to indicate that the risk of lung cancer and of endometrial cancer is reduced as well for the physically active. Active cancer survivors have an improved quality of life over those who are sedentary.
• Improved mental health. Physical activity slows the loss of cognitive function and lessens the risk of depression in as little as 90 minutes per week. Further mental health benefits include improved sleep quality.

If you are looking for more than just a local gym with a bunch of exercise equipment, but a place where you can get energized, encouraged and feel supported, look no further than Flow Fitness Boutique in Riverview.  No matter your fitness level, you will find a class to meet your workout needs and fit into your busy lifestyle. Stop by today!