By now, virtually everyone knows just how important exercise is and about the huge benefits it can provide to your body. However, the fact is that exercise isn’t just good for your body, but it can also provide huge benefits to your mental health and overall well-being. As you exercise, your body releases endorphins that promote a positive, happy feeling, which can aid you in reducing stress and other mental issues. Still, exercise doesn’t necessarily have to mean hitting the gym or going for a run as there are numerous other activities that can provide these same benefits to both your body and mind. With this in mind, here are three exciting sports activities you might want to consider.
Mountain Biking
Very few sports can compete with mountain biking in terms of sheer excitement, but this all-action sport also provides amazing benefits for both body and mind. Both road cycling and mountain biking deliver an excellent aerobic workout that enables you to strengthen and tone both your legs and your entire core. However, mountain biking is also a great workout for your brain that can help to improve your focus, concentration and decision making. Moreover, it can also be a great stress reducer by allowing you to explore beautiful natural scenery in a peaceful, secluded environment.
Kayaking
Similar to mountain biking, kayaking offers an excellent workout for your core body while also enabling you to improve your upper body strength. At the same time, paddling down a river or stream can give you a greater sense of inner peace. Kayaking also requires lots of concentration and focus as you’re forced to plot your way and choose the best course that takes you safely through any rapids you encounter. Of course, this activity is generally best reserved for people who are already strong swimmers, but you can definitely find easier routes to tackle as you begin to build up your skills.
Sport/Target Shooting
Few things in life are as exhilarating as firing a rifle, carbine, shotgun or other firearms, but what most people don’t know is that sport and target shooting can also provide a good workout for your body. Shooting helps to improve your upper body and core strength. Nonetheless, some of the biggest advantages sport shooting provides are for your mind. Being able to hit your target over and over again requires a huge amount of focus and concentration, and this can definitely provide major benefits to your overall life. Another major advantage of this sport is that it typically doesn’t require you to travel as far as kayaking or mountain biking since there are thousands upon thousands of shooting and target ranges located all across the country.
Keeping both your mind and your body healthy isn’t nearly as difficult as most people believe. The fact is that there is a wide range of different activities that can provide amazing benefits for your overall well-being without forcing you to spend hours in the gym. Of course, the best part about it all is that these activities can also be a huge amount of fun, which means you can enjoy the mental and physical benefits of exercise while also having a great time.
The post 3 Exhilarating Sports that Exercise Both Body and Mind appeared first on Fitnistics.com.