For insomniacs or chronic health sufferers, the last thing you feel like doing having woke from yet another bad night’s sleep- is exercise! Ironically, exercise has been clinically proven to shorten the amount of time taken to get to sleep and reduce the time spent awake during the night.
Researchers are currently investigating how exercise can benefit adults with chronic disease like Parkinson’s disease, cancer, fatigue and depression. Results have shown vast improvements in sleep, amongst other health benefits, like improved circulation, blood sugar levels and cholesterol.
Founder of Northside Allied Health, Liz Dawson has seen the results first hand, with many of her clients suffering from chronic disease, herald her exercise programs for their improved health.
“The proof is in the pudding for so many of my clients who when they first joined us felt like their disease owned them.
After a few months of prescriptive exercise that ranges from hydrotherapy to weight bearing exercise, balance programs and just good old fashion walking, I see a whole new person emerge. Not only does their sleep improve but their mental and emotional health does too” Liz said.
So, the proof is in the pudding and all the research points to the running track but how do you take those first few steps to make a healthier change for life?
Here are some tips from the team of Accredited Exercise Physiologists at Northside Allied Health Morayfield.
- Set some realistic short term and long term exercise goals, write them down and put them on your fridge. If you try to go from zero to hero you will crash and burn so make them realistic.
- Don’t priorities sleep over exercise, keep the equilibrium. If morning exercise means you are compromising sleep and resenting the alarm clock, find some time to exercise later in the day or at lunch time.
- Incorporate some incidental exercise into your day, this could be walking to the shops instead of driving or taking the stairs instead of the lift.
- Find some likeminded people to exercise with. Exercising in a group with people who understand you makes it more enjoyable, meaning you won’t resent the experience.
- Engage an Exercise Physiologist who practices holistic health, your mental and emotional health is as important as your physical and without a healthy balance it’s hard to sustain a beneficial exercise program.
Always consult your GP before commencing a new exercise program. For more information on the group programs offered at Northside Allied Health visit this page of the website: www.northsidealliedhealth.com.au