Are you aware of the fact that exercise not only improves your health, it will help to make you feel good too? Even when you are feeling low and subject to mood swings (common enough at your age), simply getting the right amount of exercise can actually take your energy levels to a height and also help you feel better emotionally. Aim for at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise and do it in a well balanced manner. You can choose between aerobics, strength training and flexibility training.

So how does exercise benefit you?

• There is nothing like spot exercise or spot reduction (if you want to reduce). Any exercise you do will benefit all parts of your body and this includes your mind too. The endorphins that get released when you exercise will give you peace of mind and a feeling of happiness. This in turn will give you a calm and peaceful night’s sleep.
• If you suffer from low self esteem and maybe even mild depression, regular exercise will certainly improve your state of mind. You will be able to see yourself in a better light and improve your self esteem.
• You will feel fitter and able to take on problems with far greater ease which in turn will give you a total sense of pride in your achievement.
• As for your looks – believe me when I tell you that exercise will give you a glow that can only add to your looks. Your body becomes more toned and will help you maintain a healthy weight. Even if you have binges sometime, exercise will help you to burn all those stashed away calories.
• With regular exercise starting right from your teenage, you lower the risk of debilitating diseases like Type2 diabetes which generally occurs in old age but which is gaining ground even among teens these days. High blood pressure can also be avoided if you start your routine early.
• Osteoporosis is a degenerating disease that attacks the bones as you grow older. With exercise your body gets the strength and helps you age well. So start some weight bearing exercises, or some vigorous jogging or running (possible only when you are still very young) and help keep your bones strong.
• Heart muscles get strengthened too when you do some aerobic exercises. With these, your heart pumps up more oxygen and the heart gets a vigorous workout as a result of which oxygen gets supplied to all parts pf your body.
• If you are the kind who enjoys team sports of the competitive kind, great! Swimming, soccer, hockey, basketball and badminton can give you great aerobic workouts too. Sports like rowing can not only expand your lungs, you can get an athletic body with powerful arms thrown in for good measure! However do continue these exercises through school and college – it will serve to make you fit for life.
• Strength training will also benefit all the muscles of your body. With the strengthening of your muscles, your stamina increases and you can exercise for longer periods thus burning calories efficiently. All gym exercises like push ups, pull ups, spot rowing or running on the treadmill, stationary bike riding will help build strong muscles. Will make your abs shapely too!
• Flexibility training can help to make your body not only strong but flexible also. If you are flexible, you will find you are better equipped to take part in team sports as your muscles can bend and stretch easily. If you like martial arts, it is a great way of keeping your body flexible. Other activities that can help increase your body’s flexibility are ballet, pilates and yoga. Remember to warm up before you start any vigorous activity and do some simple stretching exercises both before and after your workout.

Important factor to remember is to pick something which interests you so that you do not stop half way or drop out of the class. First decide whether it is exercise by yourself or team workout that inspires you and choose accordingly. Maybe you are the type who requires at least one companion to stay motivated – in which case, just rope in a friend who has similar interests. Check also the affordability of what you want to do – will you be able to meet the recurring expenditure? You also have to keep in mind the time you can afford to spend on the activity and always keep in mind that too much of anything is bad. For example, if your aim is to lose weight, don’t keep a goal of a model-like, thin or waif-like figure. Instead be realistic and aim at a weight which will make you look good. Remember that you are still at a growing stage and you need energy for all you activities. All said and done, exercise is a must for you to develop a healthy mind and body and the sooner you start, the more the benefits you will enjoy.

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