If you’re like me, you’re sport adverse. OK, I was sport allergic. You might like to watch a specific sport on tv or even attend a live event but participating sounds like torture.

However, there are good reasons to actually get up out of the chair and do the P word. Participate.

1. Physical

The most obvious, and most talked about, reason is the health benefit. It will make your heart healthier, improve your circulation, help with weight loss. It improves balance, strength, co-ordination, flexibility, endurance, motor control and cognitive function. If you continue to do sports later in your life all these pluses will allow you to maintain your independence and avoid relying on assistance for a longer period of time.

2. Energy

Exercising in any way causes you to breathe more. The more you breathe, the more oxygen that circulates through your system. The more oxygen, the more energy.

3. Socialization

Participating in a sport gives you the opportunity to socialize. Be it a team sport or a one on one competition, you are still interacting with other people. This helps you develop better communication skills and can help in learning teamwork.

4. Psychological benefits

Sports improve self-esteem and lend to a positive self-concept by accomplishing/learning a new task. Studies have shown that people that participate in sports, or any physical activity, have a more positive outlook on life in general and an increased belief in themselves.

5. Stress Reduction

Physical activity has been shown to reduce stress levels. While competitive sports may temporarily increase those stress levels, it is transient.

6. Fun

This is probably the most important. Sports are fun. Find something that you love. Baseball, bowling, dancing, swimming, soccer… If its not fun, it’s not for you!

Get out there and find a sport that’s right for you. If you haven’t been active for along time, take it easy to start. You don’t want to hurt yourself and you don’t want to shock your couch potato body too much, it might not react well!

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