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Tag: benefits

Yoga and Its Benefits

Yoga has been around since the year 300. Its participation has been increasing tremendously throughout the past few years and it seems everyone is getting on board the yoga train. Yoga is defined as maintaining harmony between mind, body, and spirit. People use it for many different reasons, such as strengthening the body, increasing concentration, stretching muscles, relaxing, and most importantly, to have an experience of higher consciousness.

There are also many benefits other than ones stated above, which include but are not limited to:

Increased immune system and pain tolerance
Increased metabolism and GI functions
Decreased heart rate and blood pressure
Delays the aging process and improves posture
Increased strength and energy
Better overall balance and sleep efficiency
Decreases anxiety and stress; therefore gives more positive outlook on life
Lowers cholesterol and glucose levels

Yoga classes are going on now near you!

UCO Wellness Center yoga schedule August 18th – Oct. 10th, 2014:

Mondays- 4:15-5:00pm Room 134

Tuesdays- 6:15-7:05pm Room 104

Wednesdays- 5:30- 6:15pm Room 134

Thursdays- 7:00-7:50pm Room 104

Info from

http://www.nursingdegree.net/blog/24/77-surprising-health-benefits-of-yoga/

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Buddy Broncho

The Importance and Benefits of Sleep

College students have busy lives which revolve around school, relationships, jobs, and other responsibilities which can be time and energy consuming but staying healthy is crucial for everybody. In the process, it is important to try to keep up with overall health which includes many aspects such as; exercise, diet, stress levels, nutrition, etc. One area that is routinely overlooked and not payed attention to as much as other areas is the importance of sleep. There is an article on health.com titled, “11 Surprising Health Benefits of Sleep” which examines how critical sleep can be on an individual overall well-being. Some of the most important benefits that can be experienced are better memory, higher levels of creativity, improved grades, sharper attention, lower stress levels, ability to maintain healthier weight, and helps individuals avoid depression. There are also studies that suggest getting proper sleep can help with longevity and living a longer life. To experience these wonderful benefits try to get the recommended eight hours of sleep on average every night if at all possible. This can be challenging with busy schedules and long nights of studying late into the night preparing for a big test the next day or in the near future, but try to manage and prioritize to where everything can be balanced without depriving yourself of sleep. Keep in mind the great benefits that can be realized through consistently getting eight hours of sleep a night and make it a priority along with other healthy lifestyle choices.

Donny Hein

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Buddy Broncho

Benefits of Exercise

These days, it seems as though everyone is too busy to exercise. Life gets in the way with work, school, kids, and so many other things. When one finally does find the time to exercise, it can be hard to find the motivation. Maybe if we all knew a little more about just how beneficial exercise is for our bodies and minds, we would add fitness to our list of priorities.
Here are a few benefits of exercise listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
• Weight control
• Reduce risk of cardiovascular disease
• Reduce risk for type 2 diabetes
• Reduce risk of some cancers
• Strengthen bones and muscles
• Improve your mental health and elevate mood
• Longevity
In contrast, inactivity can be detrimental to your health and have the opposite effects of exercise benefits. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends 30-60 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise five days a week, OR 20-60 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise three days per week for adults. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most difficult, moderate exercise should be around 5-6 on the scale, and vigorous intensity should be around 7-8. For more detailed information on exercise recommendations, visit http://www.acsm.org.

Hopefully the benefits of exercise will be enough to get us motivated to be physically active on a regular basis. So, when faced with the decision to exercise or not to exercise, remind yourself that:
1. Exercising today will help me feel better both mentally and physically
2. Exercising today will get me one step closer to my health and fitness goals
3. I will begin to reduce my risk for serious diseases when I make exercise a part of my lifestyle
4. I will become stronger, body and mind
5. I will feel better about myself when I choose to exercise on a regular basis
6. I will be better for myself and for my family

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
American College of Sports Medicine

Hannah Miller
Blogistics

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Buddy Broncho

Benefits of Physical Activity

Why is physical activity important? In today’s superficial society looks are everything. It seems that everyone is desperate to be tan and toned and will go to extremes to get there. However being physically fit and active is more than meets the eye. There are numerous mental and physical benefits to being physical active.

-Increased Energy
When you are involved in physical activity and are making your body do more than pick up the remote, blood vessels to your muscles dilate causing an increase in oxygen and blood flow. At the same time, your metabolic rate is increased which gives you a feeling of increased energy. The good thing about this is that it is not just a momentary burst of energy during your workout but lasts well after your workout.

-Stress Relief
During a workout or physical activity, the hormone epinephrine, adrenaline, is increased. This hormone is responsible for blood flow that in turn supplies the brain with oxygen making you more alert. Being alert makes you aware of your surroundings and helps deal with stress more efficiently and effectively. Endorphins also known as “feel good hormones” are released as well as adrenaline, which improves mood and feeling which in most counters the feeling of stress.

-Decreased Risk of Illness
Exercise is known to improve circulation of white blood cells, which are used to fight of harmful bacteria. Because of this, we are able to more efficiently prevent illness. However when we do get sick, because of the increased circulation of blood cells, we are able to more efficiently become well again.

-Improve Physical Appearance
Along with a healthy diet, increased physical activity expends energy and burns fat. Burning excess fat and unwanted “baggage” increases not only our health, but is the most effective way to achieve the physical goals you are striving for. With that being said, weight loss is not the only way to improve your physical appearance. A well designed strength training program also improves muscle definition, even without weight loss. And for those that are worried about resistance training making them bulky, most introductory resistance training programs will improve strength and definition, without adding a great deal of muscle size. However, the intensity of strength training will determine the amount of gains in muscle size and definition.

There are countless benefits to working out and becoming more physically active, many of the psychological benefits are not well known. It doesn’t matter if it is hitting the gym for an hour, playing a game of pick-up basketball, or even walking the dog, anything is better than nothing. With dedication and motivation, anyone can achieve the goals they are striving to achieve.

-Kyle Knouse
-Blog Bros

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Buddy Broncho

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