Daily contest #12 || Tell Us bout your Favorite Exercises|| Entry by nneoma08

Hello Health Conscious Friends. Staying a few days off feels like staying a whole month off. I hope you’re doing well, keeping fit and keeping safe too? I am well and grateful as always.

Exercises are inevitable and cannot be over emphasized in the life of man and every living thing. They are physical activities that we must do to stay stronger and stay healthier. Exercises can help reduce the risk of developing diseases like obesity, heart diseases and even mental health problems. Physical activities are as relevant as eating right and healthy in our lives. A lot of people have little or no time for exercising while some either don’t see any reason for it or are ignorant of the benefits and these are some of the reasons a lot of people are prone to sicknesses and diseases.
There are different types of exercises that we can do to stay healthy, stronger and active. Some of them include;
Walking, Jogging, Running, Dancing, Skipping, Squats, Planks, Cycling, Swimming, Football and so many more.
My favorites amongst these forms of exercises are;

1. Dancing 💃🏽.

I have enjoyed dancing right from childhood. I just jump up at the sound of great beats and I start dancing even though am not a great dancer but it makes happy and lifts my moods. Whenever am stressed or tense, moody or depressed, I turn on the music and dance to feel better. Sometimes, I just dance without music 🤦🏽‍♀️. Dancing also improves my heart rates and increases my energy level because each time I dance progressively for about fifteen minutes, I feel my heart racing and panting but after much deep breathing and resting, I feel relaxed and elated. I also dance basically when I am not able to do my workouts. It’s a greater form of exercise than we think.

2. Skipping or rope jumping.

Skipping is another of my favorite way of keeping fit and staying healthy. It’s a total body exercise because it involves jumping to avoid stepping on your rope and landing on the floor.
I do about 300 to 400 skips three times in a week and each time I do these, I feel like I had jogged for around thirty minutes. All I need is a good skipping rope, a little space and me. Skipping on regular basis can help one in burning excess calories, manage obesity, improve your heart health, develop and maintain stronger bones.

3. I also enjoy squats.

I do about fifty to 100 squats thrice every week. I do squats basically because they work on my backside and hips. 😉 They are easy to do too. Squats are more like “sit in the air” punishment that was given to us in Primary School. 😀 Teachers are wise though but I doubt if they knew much about that punishment 👨‍🏫👩‍🏫. Squats help to stretch and strengthen the knee, legs muscles and lower back and body. The waist pain that I developed after my third baby’s delivery has reduced drastically as a result of this. They also aid in weight loss and burning of fat. To do Squats, just pretend like you are sitting on a chair but with your hands stretched out before you and sit as low as possible. Suspend your body in the air and count slowly from one to ten and slowly go back to a standing position. The slower, the more effective.

4. The fourth on my list is the super planks.

Plank is a whole body exercise and are easy to do but holding on in that position for as long as possible is the real deal.
It’s very effective if done right like on that position, you’re feeling the effects on every targeted part of your body.
Planks required little time to achieve its purpose compared to other forms of exercises list above.
Planks target and strains your hands, your chest, stomach, back, spine, buttocks, thigh, legs (all your muscles right on that spot). If am not able to skip or do squats, I make up with planks. I do sixty to eighty seconds planks per interval and the resultant effect is amazing.
Planking helps me to relieve stress and makes me feel positive about myself. My posture has improved prior to few years back that I had little or no time to do exercises. I have also burnt some belly fats and am presently in a better shape than immediately after birthing my baby.
To do planks, just be in a push up position (sometimes, I just lie face downwards first and take some rest before continuing🤫😀), then rest your elbow and forearm on the floor and maintain this position as long as possible.

Most exercises do not require any equipment to perform them. Just take the decision, pick up yourself and go for fitness.
But, do so in moderation and seek for medical advice if need be.

Thank you so much @steemhealthcare for another expository contest. You’re all the best.
I invite @gracie20, @sammyevans, @steempotus to come join this contest.