Tips for Getting Involved in Sport and Active Recreation
If you’re not active already, it’s high time you considered doing something to improve both your physical and mental health and there is no better way to do that than getting involved in some kind of sport or active recreation. Surely, there are limitations to what physical activity you can do. Your health condition may prevent you from engaging in more demanding activities or you may not have the right amenities near your home, but that is still not a good enough reason for you to be physically inactive.
Since physical activity can make a big difference in your health and fitness, you really need to use every opportunity to do it. Whether you’re at home or work, you should be looking into the options for getting involved in some kind of exercising.
Why is it important?
The more you exercise, the more energy you’ll have. This also means that you’ll be able to sleep better and feel more accomplished and confident. Needless to say, the most obvious benefits are maintaining a healthy weight, stronger muscles and bones, lower blood pressure and reduced risk of various diseases, such as diabetes, heart attack or stroke. Finally, regular exercise can do wonders when it comes to your flexibility, coordination and balance.
What’s the right amount of physical activity?
This depends on many factors. To begin with, you should definitely consult your doctor before starting any exercise routine. You may have a condition which can be aggravated by certain activities and your doctor should be able to advise you on what activities would be most beneficial. Also, some activities are more suitable for men, while others are great for women and your doctor will tell you more about it. When it comes to how much and how often you should practice, you might want to consult a fitness expert as well. They can recommend the right regime, based on what your doctor has said and on your current shape.
Get the right gear
It’s very important that you have the right gear for the activity you’ve chosen. Your swimming goggles should be the right size and quality and so should your running shoes. Men should get the best possible football boots, while women can choose a comfortable Tennis Gear tennis skirt if they enjoy this sport. Whichever sport you’ve opted for, the important thing is to have the right gear if you want to enjoy yourself and make the most of the activity.
Does it depend on age?
It’s never too early to get involved in physical activities. Even toddlers and pre-schoolers should be physically active for at least three hours each day. Those slightly older, but not teenagers yet, should strive to accumulate at least one hour of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity each day. Teens should maintain the same level of physical activity, but by that time most of them have already tried several sports and tested their skills, which means they can select those they feel most comfortable doing. Adults should try to do between 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity a week, but they have to be more careful when choosing the activity. Ideally, they should opt for those activities that allow them to pace themselves. Older adults need to be physically active for 30 minutes each day, though the intensity of the activities really needs to be suitable for their age and health condition.
The most important thing is to realise how important being physically active is and decide to change your sedentary life, regardless of your age. However, no decision should be made without consulting your doctor, since some activities include a much higher risk of injuries or could be less suitable for you if there is an underlying health condition. Once you have made up your mind, you need to make sure you have all the right gear and equipment and you can start your new routine. You’ll notice very soon that your health and mood are improving, which will keep you motivated to continue and you’ll probably never look back.
