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Benefits of Jogging
Jogging is similar to walking in that it can be done anytime and anywhere and involves either one person or many. Again, like walking, jogging also conditions the heart, improves your muscle tone and strength, and relieves stress, besides also dealing with osteoporosis, arthritis and heart disease.
Jogging demands a commitment to training and results, and involves a discipline to run. No wonder, you can measure your performance in time, distance, strength and endurance. Depending on the intensity and duration of your workout you will lose calories.
Advantages of jogging: It is the most efficient way of achieving fitness through cardiovascular exercise and burns more calories because it is a high-impact exercise.
Disadvantages of jogging: Jogging can cause injuries on the muscles and joints which can be alleviated with stretching exercises.
Getting started: Speak to your doctor before setting off on a jogging program. Go for a brisk walk or a slow run to warm up and then do a couple of stretching exercises. Slowly, build up a comfortable jogging pace. Ideally, you should land on the ball of your heel and push off from your toes.
Don’t hunch but keep your shoulders and back straight. Don’t set a distance goal but a time goal and gradually increase the time to 10 percent each week to avoid burnout or injury. Increase distances slowly by about a couple of minutes each week. Carry along some water to keep yourself from feeling thirsty or dehydrated.
Jogging gear: All you need is a pair of comfortable trainers.
Jogging safely: To be safe while jogging, do the following:
- Jog with a friend in a familiar but not secluded area.
- Jog during the daytime.
- Face the traffic while jogging.
- Dress in bright-colored clothing so that you can be spotted immediately.
- Carry a whistle with you.
- Don’t stick to one route but keep changing it.
- Be aware of your surroundings and turn back if you find yourself unsafe.
- Don’t jog near bushes.
Psychological benefits: The psychological benefits of jogging include confidence and character building, and a boost in attitude. Jogging also teaches important lessons of learning to accept defeat and rising to the next challenge with optimism and hope, and clear obstacles. It gives a feeling of empowerment and freedom from knowing you are strong.
Jogging also gives you relief from stress as you solve problems as you jog along. You can also get over your anger and aggression.
If you suffer from depression and addictions, you could try jogging as this is sure to clear your mind and make you focus on the important things of life. In this manner, jogging is also responsible for training the mind and making you focus and be strong in other areas of your life.
So, jogging gives you all-round benefits of mind and body something you cannot shy away from. Why not start jogging for good health today?
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