Physical activity is about moving your body which increases you heart rate, breathing and temperature. It can include sport, exercise, dance, play, cycling, housework and gardening. This means that everyone can be physically active!
Being physically active can help prevent and treat more than 20 chronic diseases.
A More Active Scotland – Building A Legacy from the Commonwealth Games, 2014
Why not start with a walk?
Walking, often overlooked as a form of physical activity, is simple, free, and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier. A brisk 10-minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise.
Cardiac Rehab Exercise Videos
Making small changes to your physical activity can make all the difference to how you feel.
Our own NHS Ayrshire & Arran Cardiac Rehab team work had to show you how you can incorporate physical activity into your day. An example of this would be Kettle-move. Give this 3 minute strengthening video a try while your kettle boils.
This video from the Cardiac Rehab/HARP team shows a series of arm and chest exercises you can easily perform at home while the kettle is boiling. Doing these exercises regularly can help to build strength and range of movement.
Further videos can be found on the Cardiac Rehab team Facebook page.
Have you tried an App to keep you motivated?
These applications can be downloaded to most smart phones and can be use to help track progress, motivate and make getting active fun.
CRUK Active app
By using the CRUK Active app you can make sure that you maintain your fitness levels and fundraising throughout the year.
One You
Multiple apps created to help improve Health and Wellbeing including Active 10 and Couch to 5k.
World Walking
The World Walking App is free and easy. The aim is simply to motivate. World Walking invites you to find fun in fitness and reap the benefits of a healthier, active lifestyle. Be inspired, stay motivated and keep fit.
What is the single best thing we can do for our health?
Dr Mike Evans, an expert in Public Health at the University of Toronto, developed this short film which looks to review some of the science around how our typical days have shifted with technology and culture and the impact this has had on our health. The film, let’s make our day harder, shows examples of how to “Tweak your Week” and make small changes to improve your health. From these preventative measures, Dr Evans suggests physical activity can have the greatest impact.
Services in your area
Find services and programmes in your local authority area:
- East Ayrshire Council Vibrant Communities
- South Ayrshire Council Sport & Leisure
- KA Leisure
- Scotland’s Service Directory