When it comes to exercise, more sweat doesn’t always mean better results. High-intensity workouts are often touted for their health and weight-loss benefits. But low-intensity workouts have their perks, too.
We all know that regular physical activity is good for your health. Frequent workouts can help you:
- Maintain your weight
- Feel happier
- Sleep better
- Improve your memory and balance
- Prevent or manage conditions like
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
Even so, sometimes it’s still hard to get started—especially if you don’t like to sweat! The key is to find a workout that works for you. Try one of these:
- Water Workouts
- Swimming can be relaxing, while working your whole body with little impact on the joints. It’s perfect for people with a lot of weight to lose or those with injuries or arthritis.
- If you hate to sweat, working out in the water is awesome. Even if you’re sweating, you don’t feel it!
- Pilates
- Based on dance, yoga, gymnastics and calisthenics, Pilates is designed to strengthen the core and improve posture.
- It involves little to no cardio work, but builds on moves that target the abs, back and overall core strength.
- Walking
- No special skills required! Walking also doesn’t require a gym membership or expensive equipment. You can do it pretty much anywhere.
- Walking strengthens your bones and muscles and improves your mood, as well as your balance.
- Strength Training
- It doesn't have to take a lot of time or sweat to get your lift on. By using resistance bands, you can get a full-body strength workout. And with 30-second breaks between moves to keep your heart rate down, it’s a no-sweat way to work out.
- Tai Chi
- This gentle, meditative activity is rooted in martial arts, but can be done without breaking a sweat.
- In general, mind-body practices help control weight, reduce blood pressure, ease stress, and improve sleep.
- Housecleaning
- NEAT means more than tidying up. Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) is exercise that isn’t done just for the sake of exercise—like housework.
- Other examples include: Taking the stairs, walking to the water cooler, doing yardwork or marching in place at your child's soccer game. Try to get more NEAT activities into your day.
- Yoga
- Similar to Tai Chi and Pilates, yoga is another mind-body exercise perfect for those who like to move without getting sweaty.
- A 155-pound person can burn about 298 calories in a regular 1-hour yoga class, while calming the mind and spirit.
If your QualChoice plan includes QCARE, our Care Managers can help you set and reach health and well-being goals. They also give support and education on issues like:
- Increasing activities
- Improving diet
- Handling stress
- Stopping tobacco use (Kick the Nic! program)
Get started today! Call 800.235.7111 or 501.228.7111 and ask to speak to a Care Manager.
TIP: QualChoice members enjoy discounts from health and fitness companies like Arkansas Yoga Collective, with our QuicRewards program.
