When people mention strength training our minds automatically think of the most muscular people in the gym, lifting weight after weight while looking in the mirror. While this is a small cohort of people that strength train, that shouldn’t put you off strength exercises, in fact, strength training should be a regular part of your fitness routine. Even if you’re not looking to build big muscles or lift massive weights, strength training can be for you. We all know the main benefits of enhancing strength, building muscle and so on, but strength training has a number of other benefits too which we’re going to outline below.
What is Strength Training
Before we run through the lesser-known benefits strength training can have, let’s first give you a quick low down on what exactly strength training is. Strength training is a form of exercise where your muscles contract against an outside force, usually this outside force comes in the form of weights such as dumbbells, kettlebells, etc. While strength training can also be resistance based, such as using resistance bands or simply your own body weight. Examples of strength training exercises are free weights like a bicep curl, machine-based weights such as the leg press, resistance bands workouts, and so on.
Some Little-Known Benefits of Strength Training
Now that we’ve gone through exactly what strength training is, let’s delve deeper into some of the benefits you mightn’t know it entails.
Allows for Greater Mobility and Flexibility
Let’s kick things off with one that will shock quite a few people, which is that despite what many people believe, strength training can actually be a brilliant way to promote enhanced mobility and flexibility. This is due to the fact that strength exercises increase your joints range of motion, as long as you perform your exercises correctly. Essentially, if you are working your whole body with a strength training routine, you’ll activate joints and muscle which otherwise might not see much use. By strengthening these areas your body will in turn be more mobile and flexible.
Boosts Your Balance
Linking in with the above benefit, including strength training in your workout routine can increase your balance. This is particularly true with training that focuses on your core and lower body, as you create a stable base for the rest of your body. Having good balance is essential for people of all ages whether you’re an athlete looking for extra gains on the pitch or in general life as it decreases your risk of falls. As we get older this is particularly important as it can prevent injuries.
Helps in Managing Blood Sugar Levels
Regular strength training has also been shown to decrease your risk of developing diabetes as well as aiding in the management of diabetes for those with the condition. Research outlines that building your skeletal muscle, which strength training does, can help increase insulin sensitivity which in turn improves blood sugar management. This can be a huge benefit to people with diabetes as well as a preventative measure for people more at risk of developing it. It is important to note that while this may be the case it is always a good idea to consult with your doctor if you have diabetes before undertaking any major changes to your workout routine.
Enhances Cardiovascular Health
Another benefit of strength training some people may find surprising is that it improves your cardiovascular health. While it may not have the same effect as cardio exercises such as running, swimming, cycling, and so on it does however provide some of the same benefits. It has been shown that strength training helps your heart function more effectively which reduces your chances of developing cardiovascular diseases. Regular strength training can reduce your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and so on which lead to a healthier heart.
Strengthens Your Bones
Another huge benefit of strength training is that it strengthens your bones. Through forms of weight-bearing exercises put temporary stress on your bones, even if it is minimum with lower impact exercises, which means your bone-building cells are put to work and rebuild your bones stronger. In turn, this can help protect against osteoporosis as well as certain injuries such as bone fractures. Overall, stronger bones mean less time in the injury room recovering and more time to make gains.
Improves Your Mental Health
This is a slightly more common benefit of working out overall, but strength training is an amazing way to improve your mental health. As you exercise your body releases endorphins, which are known as the happy hormone, and this not only boosts your mood, but your overall mental wellbeing. As well as that some studies suggest that strength training might even help battle against certain cognitive decline as we age, including better memory and learning. So, while you may be working on your physical strength, your mind is also keeping fit too.
Develops Confidence
Related to the above is the benefit of confidence that strength training can provide. Confidence isn’t something that can be easily measured and is individual to us all, but by building a stronger body along with mind, you are bound to feel better in yourself. This is particularly true as we get older as with strength training you can offset the physical decline age has on us all which makes everyday tasks easier. Not only will you see a change in yourself in the mirror by implementing strength training to your routine, but you’ll feel better as a whole.
Increases Independence
Last, but certainly not least, adding strength training to your workout routine can help keep you independent for longer. As mentioned above, everyday tasks are easier if you’re staying fit and maintaining whatever level of strength training works for you. Whether it’s as simple as moving furniture, carrying the shopping, being able to do some gardening, or anything in between it can be empowering to continue doing things for yourself as you get that bit older. Most importantly it proves that strength training isn’t just something for younger people it’s great for people of all ages.
Our Key Takeaways
There you have it eight benefits of strength training that we think aren’t talked about enough. Adding these to the more common benefits associated with strength training shows why it is recommended that people include it in their fitness routine, especially as they get older. Creating a balanced workout routine, which includes strength training, in your busy schedule can be difficult but ultimately it is worth it for the benefits in the long run. In the end staying active to have a consistently healthy body and mind are a key way to remain independent for as long as possible.
How Aura Leisure Can Help
At Aura Leisure we provide ways of building strength for everyone whether that’s in our pool or gym. Our personalised fitness programmes can help you achieve your health goals with Aura Fit for Life being ideal for beginners, while Aura Lean3 is for those looking to enhance their fitness levels even further. We also have a range of fitness classes available to help build your strength training across your while body with the likes of Aura Core, Aura HIIT Strength, Aura Aqua Aerobics and more. Even better still members at Aura get access to all of this and much more at no additional cost to ensure you reach your fitness targets no matter what they are.