Sports and Wellness: Top 6 Sports to Keep You Well

“When we find new, powerful, healthy ways to be in our bodies –

large or small –

WE ARE BEAUTIFUL AND FREE”

– Sarah Hays Coomer, Physical Disobedience: An Unruly Guide to Health and Stamina for the Modern Feminist

Our bodies are our temple. However, in the daily hustle and bustle of life, we forget about ourselves. We dedicate all our time and energy so that we can be the best out there. In the process, we forget to do our best by ourselves. This is the easiest formula to burn out. It is of utmost importance to take care of our bodies as well as our minds.

Sports is a wonderful way to take care of ourselves. It helps us to stay fit and healthy. the probability of serious illnesses like obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis is also lowered by partaking in physical activity. By being active, we also energize our minds. Our confidence is boosted and we get respite from our daily stress.

There are a plethora of sports around there. It might be difficult to choose one among so many. Here, I am listing some of the best sports that you can engage in without much hassle.

Swimming

Swimming is my favorite sport of all. It is fun and also relaxing. Swimming is a low-impact activity that helps us tone our entire body. It does not put too much strain on the body. The water resistance works out our muscles and builds our lung capacity. The rhythmic movements required improve our range of motion. They also increase our flexibility. Swimming is very therapeutic and helps us to calm our minds. It reduces stress levels and enhances our cardiovascular fitness. Swimming is indeed perfect for people of all ages and fitness levels.

Cycling

Cycling is also a low-impact exercise that puts little strain on our bodies. It greatly improves cardiovascular fitness, builds leg strength, burns calories, and of course, enhances endurance. Cycling can also help us in our weight loss pursuit. It makes s breathe deeper, perspire, and experience increased body temperature. Cycling can be done indoors on a cycling machine, making it convenient for those who prefer to stay out of the sun. It can also be done outdoors. While cycling, you can enjoy the beautiful sceneries and bask in the majesty of nature. This can easily help you forget about a hard day’s stress. The best thing is that you can adjust the intensity of your exercise. Cycling is an ideal sport for those intending to take part in competitions or just wishing to stay fit.

Running

Running is a great way to help us distance ourselves from the stress of life. It is therapeutic and helps us get in touch with our bodies. Running has a number of advantages. It improves our mental as well as our physical health. Also, it strengthens our lungs, helps prevent high blood pressure, controls our weight, increases bone density, makes our legs strong, and enhances our immune system. Running can be done solo at our own pace while listening to our favorite music and enjoying our mesmerizing surroundings. It can also be done with a partner or in a group. Hence, running is perfect for both people who prefer solitude and those who like to socialize.

Yoga

Yoga might seem an off-beat addition to this list. We have a preconceived notion that yoga translates to just sitting cross-legged and breathing deeply. However, there is much more to yoga than this. Yoga leads to an intense workout that enhances our respiration, flexibility, and energy levels. More importantly, it helps us in achieving mindfulness. By practicing yoga, we get closer to being in touch with our inner selves. Learning yoga is quite easy nowadays. Almost every neighborhood offers a yoga class or two. If you do not wish to get into the hassle of joining a class, you can easily get a yoga mat at home and learn yoga from any of the countless YouTube videos out there. You also have the option to get a book.

Squash

Playing squash is a great way to stay fit. While playing squash, you have to run, leap, and even dive for the ball. Naturally, it burns calories, enhances aerobic fitness, increases flexibility, and boosts power and strength. Squash also leads us to develop better hand-eye coordination and improve our cardiovascular health. Squash is good for maintaining a healthy body weight, increasing agility, and being happy overall. It is no wonder that Forbes has named squash the number one sport for many years in a row.

Boxing

Boxing is one of the best stress busters. While throwing those punches in a productive manner, we not only get to box away our day’s problems but also remain fit. Boxing is a pretty high-intensity sport. It leads to a full-body workout. It involves repeated punching and intricate footwork. This leads to an intense cardio workout, in turn improving our cardiovascular health. Boxing helps us to enhance our overall coordination as well. Boxing involves the use of punching bags, gloves, and focus pads. Using this equipment strengthens our arms, shoulders, upper body, legs, and of course, our core. It is a great way to improve our posture as well. Boxing can be done in one-on-one classes, group classes, or even on our own.

Conclusion

Sports play a significant role in our well-being. It helps us stay happy, fit, and social. There are a ton of sports out there in addition to the ones mentioned here. We just need to figure out which one suits us best. Also, we need to make sure to fully commit to the sport that we are choosing. By only completely dedicating ourselves, we can achieve our desired results.

Putting aside a small part of our day to exercise or engage in a sport can do wonders for our well-being. Even though it may seem difficult to find the time in our busy schedules, we should make the effort. After all, it is for our overall well-being.

Do comment and let me know which of the above sports interests you the most.