“…It is evident from the structure of the body, that exercise is not less necessary than food for the preservation of health.”
William Buchan, 1792.

We live in a society where life is built around convenience and this is provoking people to become increasingly inactive and proving hazardous to our health. Inactive people have the same risk as those who are smokers of developing coronary heart disease – twice the risk of active people. When taking into account that 70% of women and 60% of men are not active enough to achieve the health benefits of exercise, it is obvious that inactivity is a serious health problem.

Everyone can benefit from regular exercise, regardless of age, size or physical condition. No one is ever too unfit or too old to start, and further more the greatest increases in health benefits comes to inactive people who start taking regular moderate exercise. The longer and more you exercise your health risks will decrease.

Being active is easy and the benefits can be gained from all types of physical activity. An exercise class, gym session, swimming, cycling are all great ways to boost your activity levels but everyday things such as walking, gardening and using stairs help boost your activity levels too.
Activity = improved quality of life! Once you start exercising the benefits will become obvious. Overall your quality of life will improve ranging from simple changes such as being able to bend down to fasten your shoe laces to more complex changes including an increased capacity to utilise oxygen in muscles. Physical activity is a natural, healthy behavior and improves both your physical and mental health. The human body is designed to move and by doing so you increase its efficiency and resilience.

Benefits of exercise

  • In conjunction with a well balanced diet exercise can help you lose weight by burning fat and calories you have consumed.
  • Improves strength and coordination.
  • Can help you change the shape of your body.
  • Allows you to do more and achieve more and have higher levels of confidence.
  • Initial increases in exercise in those people who are unfit are very quick and these people will see great benefits and increases in fitness almost straight away.
  • Improves mobility of joints and increases flexibility.
  • Reduces the risk of contracting illnesses and improves energy levels.
  • Reduces the risk of heart disease.
  • Improves the efficiency of the heart and lungs.
  • Reduces the risk of contracting diabetes.
  • Improves the circulation.
  • Improves self esteem and confidence.
  • Improves quality of life and has been proved to assist people to live longer.
  • Relieves and combats stress.
  • Improves skills.
  • Provides a social outlet allowing you to meet new people and make new friends