Unexpected Benefits of Exercise, Image Credit: First Class PT

A lot of people think exercise is important purely for the purpose of losing weight. There are, however, so many other reasons why we should all incorporate routine exercise into our daily or weekly schedules. One of most unexpected benefits of exercise is the improvement in self-image and ultimately, therefore, our self-confidence. Working out regularly helps keep our body fit and toned, and releases endorphins into our system, which helps combat depression and makes us happy. All these things combine to produce an individual who is proud about their appearance and physical aptitude and is in a positive state of mind. So the next time you are feeling down or negatively about yourself, start working out. It can be as simple as picking up a skipping rope in your backyard or a strenuous gym workout. It doesn’t matter. Whatever gets your heart rate up and your blood pumping will do the trick. If you don’t feel confident that you can keep yourself motivated all on your own, consider a signing up with some of the best personal trainers in Toronto for regulated workout sessions. Many of these personal training outfits such as First Class PT and similar others are happy to carry out sessions in the comfort of your own home. This makes exercise convenient and you are less likely to skip out on your workout sessions due to other commitments or because you feel like having a lazy day.

In addition to keeping you fit, healthy and happy, exercise, quite unexpectedly, also boosts your mental prowess. Studies have proven that cardiovascular workouts help create new brain cells – and we could all surely use more of those! The tougher the workout, the better, as it results in the creation of larger amounts of a particular protein whose production originates in the brain. This protein has been observed to improve cognitive ability with regards to processes like decision-making and learning new things. Exercise has also been shown to improve memory in children and adults alike. Working up a sweat has been linked to hippocampus development; the hippocampus is the part of the brain that determines learning and information retention capabilities.