5 Benefits of Biking To Work

Do you commute every day? If so, then you and I have something in common, along with tens of millions of others. Many people choose to drive to work, while others may take a train or bus. However, few choose to cycle. But cycling could be the best choice of all, and here’s why:

1) Save Money: Choosing to cycle to work is pretty much guaranteed to save you money, and who isn’t looking to save money in these difficult times? Firstly, you don’t have to pay for a car in the first place. Secondly, you don’t have to pay any tax for your car. Thirdly, you don’t have to pay for fuel and, well, you get the picture.

If you’re using any kind of transport other than your own two feet to get to work every day, then you’ll almost certainly save money by going on a bicycle instead.

(Photo credit: tejvanphotos)

2) Improve Your Health: With many of us doing little more than sitting at a computer all day while at work, exercise is becoming more and more important to living well. It’s your body that keeps you going day in and day out, so it’s important to keep it in decent shape.

Cycling to work is a fantastic way to help keep your body healthy. By cycling, you’ll also eliminate the need to spend so many hours in the gym before and after work, saving you money and also time.

3) Clear Your Mind: Those who exercise regularly know how good it can feel for the body, but they also know it feels good for the mind. Exercise can help clear your mind, distracting you from your worries and concerns. It’s also a known fact that cardiovascular exercise can help with mental health, reducing both anxiety and depression.

4) Help The Environment: Global warming scientists suggest that we could have a big problem on our hands if we don’t start to take action right now, and the best place to start is with your carbon emissions. One of the biggest sources of these emissions is car travel. By using your car less, you can directly contribute to reduced carbon emissions.

5) Save Time: Although cycling isn’t usually thought of as the fastest way to travel, it clearly beats walking. However, on commutes where there’s a lot of traffic, cycling can also be quicker than travel by bus or car if you don't live too far away. Even if it’s slower than your car journey, you’ll still get to work pretty quickly, and can enjoy the other benefits listed above at the same time.

Spring is a great time to get outdoors and onto your bike, so there's never been a better time to incorporate bicycling into your daily transportation and exercise routines.

3 Mind-Body Exercises That Benefit Your Heart

One of the best ways to ensure good heart health is to engage in exercises that focus on the mind and the body. Most of us think that a good physical health is the only indicator of a healthy heart. However, research shows that our mood, stress levels and general outlook in life have major effects not only on the body but the heart as well. Simply put, preventing heart disease requires you to exercise regularly, make smarter food choices and engage in activities that reduce stress.

Here are 3 mind-body exercises that can improve heart health:

Yoga (Photo credit: natalielucier)

1.) Yoga- Hollywood celebs like Jennifer Aniston, Adam Levine and Michelle Williams are all hooked on yoga for a good reason. This practice relaxes the mind and body by using different disciplines, poses and breathing techniques. One of the key goals of yoga is to help a person achieve a state of peacefulness. Practicing yoga regularly can help you manage stress and anxiety effectively.

People who lived in the ancient times used yoga to improve their tranquility and spiritual insight. Today, people are also seeing its other benefits to one's health. According to some studies, yoga can help lower blood pressure, increase lung capacity, promote blood circulation and improve respiratory function and heart health.

Pilates Class (Photo credit: heraldpost)

2.) Pilates- this form of exercise was developed by Joseph Pilates. His desire to overcome physical limitations through physical fitness gave birth to the concept of Pilates- leave the body invigorated rather than drained of energy. The main objective of this discipline is to balance flexibility and strength. It focuses on uniting the mind, body and spirit through natural movements.

Unlike traditional cardiac rehabilitation programs, the exercises involved in Pilates significantly improve functional capacity in patients with heart failure according to some studies. A 16-week study was conducted to prove the effectiveness of Pilates in improving heart health. Patients with heart failure did Pilates in combination with 30 minutes of aerobic exercises. The result was lowered resting heart rate and improved oxygen levels in the blood.

Tai Chi (Photo credit: Nney)

3.) Tai Chi- this exercise is also known as moving meditation. It combines slow, controlled movements with mental concentration to help you focus. Tai Chi challenges the body and it improves life energy flow. Research suggests that this form of exercise can improve heart function. It can also lower blood pressure and stress levels.

Tai Chi is perfect for those who are looking for a low-impact exercise that do not put a lot of stress to the muscles and joints. It is generally safe for all ages and fitness levels. You do not need any equipment to practice Tai Chi and you can be indoors or outdoors.

These three types of exercise provide great benefits for both the mind and the body - both of which promote overall health and a strong, healthy heart. Plus they are a lot of fun, and make you feel great!

Why Exercise Can Help Fight Teen Depression

Are you a parent who is worried about your teen?  Has their behavior changed recently and you think they might be depressed?  If your teen is depressed, you’ve probably looked into antidepressants and found yourself even more concerned, and you should be.  Drugs designed to fight depression in adults can actually increase the incidence of suicide and other destructive behavior in teens.  There are other options.  While seriously depressed teens should visit a therapist, some symptoms can also be alleviated through regular exercise.  Exercise works directly and indirectly to help relive many of your teen’s depression symptoms.

(Photo credit: Eddi van W.)

While there are other benefits, exercise itself can directly improve the mood of your teen.  Exercising produces chemicals in your system that work to improve your mood.  While the effect is short term, regular exercise can help improve your teen’s mood even when they’re not exercising.  As an added bonus, many children and teens in this country are overweight and obese.  Regular exercise will help fight these diseases and leave your child healthier as well.  And when you’re healthy you feel better and are less worn down.

A major factor in teen depression is low self esteem.  By helping your child improve their physical appearance, you can help improve the way they feel about themselves.  Regular exercise will help your child look and feel better.  Even if physical results are minimal, exercise can help make your child feel better about the way they look.

As I already said, low self esteem is a big factor in teen depression, but it’s not entirely determined by how they look.  A lot of teens opinions about themselves come from how they think others feel about them.  There are plenty of exercise opportunities for teens that involve socializing, such as team sports.  These will allow your child to meet new people and make new friends.  Even if they’re not good enough to make their school’s team, there are plenty of other opportunities through the YMCA and other sport clubs.

 (Photo credit: Spree2010)

One big factor in determining whether or not a teen will become depressed is whether or not they have a depressed parent.  A teen with a depressed parent may be up to 6 times more likely to become depressed than other teens.  This may be caused by genetics, or simply by becoming depressed through exposure.  Whatever the reason, there’s great news.  All the depression fighting benefits of exercise for teens also apply to adults.  So if you’re feeling a little down, why not take your teen to the gym or out for a run around the block.  You’ll not only be exercising, you’ll also have some quality time to spend with your child. 

So talk to your teen, and then get them up and moving.  With regular exercise, there's a good chance your son or daughter will soon be feeling much better.