Many of us join a gym because we want to develop a nice physique or want to look and feel better about our image. Sure, it’s nice to burn off those love handles and feel toned. Muscle mass even burns more calories and helps with your posture and endurance too.
However, we sometimes get too enamored with our physique and end up focusing only on muscle mass. The attention we give our muscles sometimes takes away from cardiovascular exercise.
The Heart
In regards to physical fitness, the heart is the most important body part we should be exercising. The heart is the center of all blood flow and circulation for our arms, legs, muscles, brain, skin, and every organ in our entire body.
Knowing this, wouldn’t it make sense to give special attention to cardiovascular exercise? The entire body benefits from it.
Here are some of the many benefits of cardiovascular exercise and a strong heart:
- Increased Stamina
- Better Focus
- Relaxation / Stress Relief
- Less ‘Feeling out of Breath’
- Better Sleep
- Relief from Depression and Anxiety
- Weight Loss
- Reduced Risk of Heart Disease
- Maintain Bone Density
- Better Skin Complexion
- Higher Metabolism
- Longer Life Span!
Remember, these are just a few of the many benefits of having a strong heart and getting plenty of cardio. You can try running, jogging, hiking, elliptical machines, treadmills, swimming, soccer, or just about any kind of exercise that gets your heart pumping a little faster.
It’s best to start off easy and gradually increase the intensity of your exercise until you get more and more comfortable. If you take care of your heart, your body will thank you in many ways.
