Researcher gives infallible tip for not giving up physical activities

With the Covid-19 pandemic, many groups of friends who got together to practice exercises had to start doing physical activities alone. Without company, many gave up and left gymnastics for good.

Researchers at the University of Manitoba, Canada, say that exercising in a group brings several benefits: in addition to encouraging you to continue with the activity, it increases satisfaction with life, confidence, and makes it easier to evolve in practice.

However, scientists believe that without creating an identity within the group, team exercise can make individual activity difficult. According to Canadians, if the individual does not see himself as an athlete, or a person who exercises, it is more difficult to maintain the practice when he needs to be alone.

“We asked participants how they would react if the group was not available. People who identified strongly with the group were less confident in their ability to exercise alone, and thought it would be difficult to do the activity without company”, explains professor Shaelyn Strachan, one of those responsible for the survey.

According to Strachan, who wrote an article for the popular science website The Conversation, people who become too dependent on the group don’t have enough will to continue on their own. Therefore, it is essential to create a self-image of a “person who exercises” – the commitment must be with the activity and not with the group.

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Exercises that strengthen bones and muscles are essential to prevent disease and other health problems. In addition to improving balance, exercising at least twice a week is one of the secrets to prolonging life expectancy and aging better.Mike Harrington/Getty Images

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A study by researchers at Tohoku University in Japan shows that between 30 and 60 minutes of muscle-strengthening exercises a week is enough.Hinterhaus Productions/Getty Images

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According to the survey results, the risk of premature death among people who move is between 10% and 17% lower than that seen in sedentary people.Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images

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Exercises that use your own body weight, such as weight training and sports, are some of the recommendations. In addition, activities such as Tai chi and yoga are also indicated to strengthen bones and muscles.Nisian Hughes/Getty Images

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Keeping the body active also helps to improve the results of menopause, post-op periods and can help prevent bone fractures, for example. In addition, it also helps in increasing energy, improves mood and sleep.skaman306/ Getty Images

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According to experts, people who exercise for at least half an hour a week show a reduced risk of death, heart disease and cancer. One hour per week of muscle-strengthening activities was also linked to decreased risk of diabetes.Tom Werner/Getty Images

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The muscle and bone mass of the human body peaks before age 30. From that age, a natural decay begins. That is, individuals who start exercising at a young age will have increased bone and muscle strength throughout life.Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

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People who exercise after age 30 reduce the body’s natural fall, manage to preserve bone and muscle strength and live much better. Justin Paget/Getty Images

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“Some people who think like that and were part of the study told us that losing the group during the pandemic was seen as another challenge to overcome, and they focused on opportunities to exercise without having to worry about the rest of the class”, says the researcher. .

The scientist’s tip for creating this mindset is to stop to define what it means for everyone to be an “exercise individual”. Another possibility is to create different goals for the group and for yourself – for example, going for a run for three days with friends would be the collective goal, and surpassing your own speed record, the individual one.

“In general, if you want to strengthen your exercise routine but remain flexible when you encounter challenges, having a sense of ‘we’ is great, but don’t lose sight of it,” writes Strachan.