No matter what our age, physical activity is one of the most important things we can do to stay healthy. Even thirty minutes a day of moderate physical activity can make a difference.
But many of us don’t get even that. We have all kinds of reasons:
And then there’s the most popular reason of all:
“I just don’t want to.”
Most of us know that being physically active is possibly the single most important thing we can do to keep ourselves healthy at any age.
We’ve been told how good physical activity is for our cardiovascular health. We know it strengthens our muscles and bones, improves our mood and our overall brain health, and gives us more mental and physical energy. We’ve heard about its ability to regulate our weight and help control glucose levels, reduce our risk for chronic diseases, and even improve our sleep.
The list goes on.
Excuses aside, the real answer to this question is probably that we find exercise uncomfortable, especially after a period of inactivity.
We don’t like huffing and puffing, feeling sore, getting up early, or whatever – even though we may actually want to be more active. We just wish it wasn’t so hard!
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
There are so many types of physical activity, including many that we don’t associate with being physically active. Even so, they can still be good for us.
Taking the stairs, walking to the corner and back, going out into the garden, or cleaning the yard are all good ways to increase your physical activity over time.
And with new technologies and internet access we have a great variety of options in the comfort of our own space that we did not have in the past.
When it comes to types of activities and even more performance related sports, there are many options to explore based on your health and fitness profile.
If you’re ready to begin a new exercise routine or build on an existing one, a coach can help you identify resources, set realistic goals, and build a personalised plan to achieve those goals. Your coach can also help you to monitor and evaluate your progress and, most importantly, to stay motivated.
Having a health coach support you in your journey provides a number of benefits:
All our sessions are done virtually, making your experience convenient, flexible, and more affordable.
We start with an initial 60-minute session. This gives us time to get to know each other and allows us to start understanding your health and the challenges you face. We’ll also learn about your medical history and what has or has not worked for you.
From this starting point, we’ll help you formulate a realistic way forward and a plan that feels right for you. This plan is a starting point that gives us direction, but also a work in progress. As you understand more about yourself and the progress you’re making, you may want to make adjustments – and that’s okay.
After the initial session, you’ll be able to set up regular follow-up sessions for ongoing support and adjustments where needed. The number and duration of these sessions is flexible so that you can choose the options that work best for you.
