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These Are The Seriously Overlooked Benefits Of Working Out

Shauna Harrison, Ph.D.
Author:
May 02, 2018
Shauna Harrison, Ph.D.
Ph.D. & Movement Advocate
By Shauna Harrison, Ph.D.
Ph.D. & Movement Advocate
Shauna Harrison, Ph.D., is the creator of Muscle + Flow, Adjunct Associate at Jonhs Hopkins, and fitness teacher. A graduate of Stanford, UCLA and Johns Hopkins, she simultaneously pursued academics and fitness obtaining her Ph.D. in Public Health and teaching fitness classes across the country.
Photo by mbg Creative
May 02, 2018

Getting in shape has become virtually synonymous with "carve the body into a given physical ideal." We glorify the six-pack, celebrate the bikini body, and are on this hamster wheel chasing aesthetic greatness. Having been part of the fitness industry for 22 years, I am well aware that, from a marketing standpoint, the six-packs, bikini bodies, and booty-lifting appeal affect people's desires, in terms of imagery as much as verbiage.

I do think that as an industry, though, we have a responsibility to direct the conversation and tell the whole story. Yes, a beautiful body is sexy. But do you know what else is sexy? Living longer. Living fully. Living at our maximum physical and cognitive function. Living at our greatest potential for as long as possible. And none of these things require a sculpted physique to achieve. They can, however, be achieved with regular and consistent physical activity.

The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has recently released its annual scientific report of the most current evidence about the disease prevention and health promotion benefits of physical activity. Ten more years of research has given further evidence to the breadth of health benefits that can be attributed to physical activity.

Here's a snapshot of the easily overlooked benefits of working out.

Quality of sleep

Quality of sleep has been linked numerous times to workout patterns, meaning a number of things like deeper and longer sleep cycles have been attributed to greater amounts of moderate to vigorous physical activity. And this applies to those who have sleep-related disorders and those who do not. Many of these benefits can happen almost immediately.

Improved daily activity

Increased physical activity leads to improved physical function across all ages. Those who engage in more physical activity are able to perform daily tasks more easily, and in older populations this also slows the loss of age-related physical function. In other words, you can move better for longer.

Enhanced brain function

Executive function refers to the processes of the brain needed to concentrate and pay attention, often broken down into inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. Some examples of this process include things such as organization, planning, reasoning, self-monitoring, and controlling emotions. Even a single bout of physical activity can improve your executive function for a period of time. Plus, exercise helps reduce stress levels, which makes for a happy and healthy brain.

Manage mental health

Regular exercise has been said to help reduce depression and anxiety levels1—even pregnant women who are more physically active have less risk of postpartum depression as well. Some of these benefits happen almost immediately.

Reduce risk of all-cause mortality

You can decrease your chance of all-cause mortality2 even with the slightest increase in physical activity. This is even more important if you tend to lead a more sedentary lifestyle. Additionally, consistent exercise can help reduce your risk of cardiovascular mortality and mortality from colorectal cancer, breast cancer, or prostate cancer. For those who already have a chronic condition, exercise may also help with symptoms and chronic conditions.

Even small bouts of activity of any length of time count in a daily accumulated total of activity and contribute to these myriad benefits. Moving your body is incredibly important for your health and even more beneficial when you enjoy doing so. As studies have shown3, those who are physically active sleep better, feel better, function better—and ultimately, lead happier and more fulfilled lives.

Here's why small incremental changes to your day make all the difference.

Shauna Harrison, Ph.D.
Shauna Harrison, Ph.D.

Shauna Harrison, Ph.D., is the creator of Muscle Flow, Adjunct Associate at Jonhs Hopkins, and fitness teacher. A graduate of Stanford, UCLA and Johns Hopkins, she simultaneously pursued academics and fitness obtaining her Ph.D. in Public Health and teaching fitness classes across the country. Through her unique style and authenticity that blends her love for hip hop, wellness, yoga and knowledge of public health, Harrison has created a brand of her own, making her one of the most influential fitness profiles on Instagram and sought after partner for leading brands.


Read More About Shauna Harrison, Ph.D.

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The 20 Minute Workout Challenge

Check out It Takes Only 20 Minutes A Day To Transform Your Body & Form Healthy Habits For A Lifetime

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More from the author:

The 20 Minute Workout Challenge

Check out It Takes Only 20 Minutes A Day To Transform Your Body & Form Healthy Habits For A Lifetime

Learn more
Shauna Harrison, Ph.D.
Shauna Harrison, Ph.D.

Shauna Harrison, Ph.D., is the creator of Muscle Flow, Adjunct Associate at Jonhs Hopkins, and fitness teacher. A graduate of Stanford, UCLA and Johns Hopkins, she simultaneously pursued academics and fitness obtaining her Ph.D. in Public Health and teaching fitness classes across the country. Through her unique style and authenticity that blends her love for hip hop, wellness, yoga and knowledge of public health, Harrison has created a brand of her own, making her one of the most influential fitness profiles on Instagram and sought after partner for leading brands.


Read More About Shauna Harrison, Ph.D.

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