I choose SPORT, how about you?

Nowadays, people are often in a hurry and running everywhere without even thinking about stopping for a moment and taking a breath. Do many of us then think about the health benefits of all this? And do many of us honestly take care of ourselves every day? In any case, we boldly state that taking care of our health and EXERCISE is necessary. So I invite you to this sports review.   Sports clubs Many people choose various sports clubs, but this should be done very responsibly. It is very important to assess your physical condition during a consultation with a physiotherapist or other specialist and discuss your plan to cultivate the chosen sport or visit a sports club. Not all types are suitable for everyone - they require appropriate preparation. By ignoring this rule, people risk getting injured. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention and think carefully before choosing. Also, often in sports clubs, sports are practiced individually, not knowing that this can harm yourself. Professional supervision is a really good choice. On the other hand, sometimes he knows how to shape a beautiful body, but forgets to take into account the harm of exercise to the body. The best option is to choose a specialist with medical competence. It is worth remembering that it is worth knowing your capabilities in sports clubs and not overdoing it, especially when attending group classes. Sport should be health, not the other way around. When choosing what is closer to your heart, we would like to offer you regular visits to the pool - after all, it is really useful. "Swimming employs almost all the muscles of the body, so we work very intensively, we train them all. Swimming is a safe sport, the pressure of water at the appropriate temperature "lightens" the human body about 10 times, so we can perform movements more easily, with a greater amplitude. However, you need to know how to swim, for example, you need to dive your head into the water, not keep it above the water. Otherwise, the tone of the back and neck muscles will increase, which will need to be normalized in order to avoid muscle tension or even pain," says physiotherapist Daiva Marcinkevičiūtė.   Clean air – double benefit Exercising in the fresh air is one of the pluses, but what to choose? D. Marcinkevičiūtė answers: "What you like the most, because only then will you want to exercise. I would advise you to choose from team sports, then it will be more fun and motivation will be greater." On the other hand, many people choose running outdoors or cycling. And not without reason - it is useful for training the respiratory, cardiovascular and general endurance of the body, and also strengthens many muscles of the body, especially the legs. You can also travel from point A to point B and get to know the city better and discover unseen places. In addition to all this, you should also try the exercise machines located in parks - they motivate you to exercise. After all, they are very similar in sports clubs, only there you can dose the load. Exercise machines encourage movement, which improves blood circulation, also works the muscles, the body becomes stronger and more flexible. In short - movement is the basis of good health! What do you think about taking a daily walk or generally replacing a car or public transport with walking? All this also has a positive effect. “By walking, moving, we strengthen our respiratory, cardiovascular systems, and musculoskeletal system (bones, muscles, joints). The World Health Organization recommends dedicating 30 minutes of physical activity every day to prevent disorders and diseases of the listed systems. I encourage my patients to compare their bodies to a machine: if we don’t drive it and take care of it, it will rust and break down. The same thing happens with our bodies,” says the physiotherapist.   Home advantage Exercising at home is a good solution. On the other hand, everything has both advantages and disadvantages. In this case, the advantages would be the following: it costs nothing and you can do it every day, as much as you want, at a time that is convenient for you. Cons: you often lack motivation, it is simulated, household chores weigh you down and sports are forgotten, mistakes are made while exercising, which are later felt in the form of pain and discomfort. However, what and how to exercise at home - that is the question. First of all, you should find your favorite type of sport(s) and then consult with a physiotherapist or other competent specialist (e.g., a sports doctor) to see if that sport is suitable, assess your physical condition and capacity, and create a sports program. Consult with a specialist every certain period of time and improve through exercise.   Motivation and all the others little things Not everyone has the will to do sports, but how can people increase their motivation? “I think that a properly chosen type of sport, movement with a company, and the benefits of sports for the body would motivate: when we move, we feel fresh, energetic, strong, resilient, and we have a more beautiful body. If you want to be like that – go ahead!” – says D. Marcinkevičiūtė enthusiastically. In addition to all this, regular and appropriate sports are the basis for good health and a beautiful appearance. After all, many people want to look beautiful and feel fresh, right? “I wish everyone to find a sport that suits them and likes them and move, move, move! Let's take care of our health, after all, it is our most precious asset!” – adds the physiotherapist.   Let's exercise! Exercise 1. Lie on your stomach, feet hip-width apart, buttocks and abdominals tight. Chest touching the mat, arms extended, palms facing the floor. With straight arms, spring up and down with a small amplitude for 1 minute. Repeat the exercise 3 times, breathing freely. Exercise 2. Get on your hands and knees on the mat, tighten your glutes and abdominals. Your hands rest on the mat under your shoulders. Bend your elbows (they come closer to your torso, not to the sides) and lower your whole body down, inhaling and exhaling as you return to the starting position. Repeat 3 sets of 10-15 times. Exercise 3. Place your feet and hands on the mat, tighten your glutes and abdominals. Your hands rest on the mat under your shoulders. Bend your elbows and lower your entire body down, inhaling and exhaling as you return to the starting position. Repeat 3 sets of 10-15 times. Exercises: Daiva Marcinkevičiūtė, physiotherapist at the Healthy Body Studio "Sportis". Photos: Marta Kovalevskaja

Evelina Stepšytė