About This Lesson
We might take bodily functions for granted and we might not even think about many of our body’s normal functions until they start failing. Regular exercise doesn’t have to be intense or time-consuming to improve our bodily functions.
Breathing Exercises
As we age, we might run out of breath or get short-winded climbing stairs, carrying groceries, or walking the dog. This could be from numerous factors including being overweight, out of shape, or lowered lung capacity. To increase your lung capacity, you can do breathing exercises.
Diaphragmatic breathing is an excellent exercise to improve lung capacity. Start by breathing in through the nose, until your belly has expanded. You can see this by placing your hands on your belly while breathing in. Now breathe out through pursed lips twice as long as you breathed in, again relaxing your neck and shoulders.
These exercises retrain your diaphragm to breathe normally as they should. Along with diaphragmatic breathing, walking is another great exercise to improve your lung capacity.
Excretory System
Going to the bathroom is a bodily function we might take for granted until it stops functioning normally. The excretory system includes the bladder, kidneys, skin, liver, and intestines. Urinary incontinence is one health issue that affects the bladder and can be healed or prevented by doing Kegel exercises. Healthcare marketing is something you can look into if you're experiencing these types of problems. These exercises will strengthen the pelvic floor that you can do anywhere at any time.
To do Kegel exercises, follow these steps
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Empty your bladder first
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Contract your pelvic floor muscles (as if you’re holding it in) for a count of 10
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Relax the muscle for a count of 10
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Repeat for a total of 10 times
You can do this sitting, standing, or laying down. Try to do three complete sets during the day. Sweating during exercise clears the body of toxins. Exercising helps the digestive system, making digestion and bowel movements easier.
Circulatory System
Your heart beating and your blood flowing are necessary bodily functions. The circulatory system does more than keeping the blood flowing, it also keeps oxygen moving and removes toxins and other wastes from the body.
Walking or using a stationary bike are great ways to improve circulation and is easy on your body if you’re not used to exercising. Other exercises include yoga, tai chi, dancing, or jumping on a rebounder or mini-trampoline.
It should be noted that prolonged or high-intensity exercise can damage the tight junctions of the intestines, which can cause intestinal problems. So you don’t have to go crazy exercising to improve bodily functions.
The Brain
The brain controls all bodily functions, so exercising the brain is vitally important to keep it in shape. All physical forms of exercise are excellent for the brain as it keeps oxygen flowing to the brain which helps create new brain cells.
Mental exercises are equally important for the brain. Some great mental exercises include jigsaw puzzles, learning a new skill, teaching a skill, listening to and playing music, and engaging all of your senses in non-routine ways.
The Immune System
Without a healthy immune system, we would be sick most of the time. Aerobic exercises and weight lifting are all great as they get the blood and oxygen moving instead of stagnating.
Recent studies have found that regular exercise causes positive changes in the immune system. Moderate exercise causes immune cells to circulate through the body faster and better able to kill invading viruses and bacteria. With continued regular exercise, this immune system response lasts longer and longer.
Conclusion
An added benefit of regular exercise is a more restful night sleep. And the better quality sleep you get, the better your body will function. Change up exercises and routines, and make it fun. The more enjoyable exercise is, the more you are likely to continue exercising.
