Different types of Exercise

You may not realise, but exercise isn’t just cardio or lifting weights. There are various different types of exercise: Aerobic, strength, flexibility and balance.

Aerobic is by far the most common. It is widely associated with burning fat. Aerobic exercises are all about endurance and result in tour breathing and heart rate becoming elevated. This can be achieved by a brisk walk, run, cycle, swimming or even gardening. Any activity that keeps your circulation and lungs in check, helping to prevent disease such as heart disease is regarded as aerobic exercise.

Flexibility is an underrated form of exercise, however is becoming far more popular in the modern era. By improving your flexibility, you can improve your posture, as well as providing your limbs a wider ROM or range of motion. Ailments such as arthritis can reduce the joints ability to perform a good range of motion, so stretching can help to alleviate that issue. Exercise such as pilates or yoga, when practised over time, can really help keep your body limber for longer.

Strength exercises can be performed in a variety of ways. Either by lifting weights, bodyweight, resistance bands or resistance machines at the gym all provide a level of strength training.  Such exercises help to strengthen not only the muscle, but also the bones. This will help with every day tasks, especially for adults who are later on in life.

Balance again is widely underestimated. But without good balance, we would really struggle with everyday chores, and yet we still take this for granted. Simplicity is key hers, and exercises as basic as standing on one foot can lead to an improvement in balance. Gymnastics is a great way to practice your balance and in turn improve your core stability.

So there you have it. Aerobic exercise isn’t just an hour on the treadmill. These differing variables will lead to a greater all round aerobic level of fitness.