What are the best sports / physical activities for your health?

blue note

Obviously it's a very broad question and the answers will depend on the person in question as well as the sport / activity itself, but in general what sports and activities are the best for you and which are more just for enjoyment with limited health benefits?

I reckon a good rule of thumb is if it makes you tired it's good for you. And not just out of breath tired - the more your body aches the next day the better. From googling the question squash seems to come up as a very good one - rowing, boxing, swimming and a few others too.

But I wonder about how efficient some common forms of exercise are. Golf for example is a great game and I particularly like how long people can play it for. But it must be fairly minimal in terms of health benefit. Certainly not bad for you, but not amazing either.

And the ones I particularly wonder about are the likes of pilates and yoga. In the GAA off season I did some pilates (probably 1-2 times weekly for 4 months or so). It was kind of fun, but I'm not sure if it really did much good. We do 5-10 minutes of stretching before GAA training and the pilates largely felt like a prolonged version of that. An hour getting ready to exercise without ever actually exercising. Don't get me wrong, I better I got at it the harder I found the exercises as I was actually doing them right, but even by the end I was a bit skeptical about the whole thing.

Something else I enjoy is hiking. Again, I could be out for 6 hours walking up and down hills and mountains, but at the end of the day it's just a hard walk. I can't imagine it would come close to a 1 hour training session in terms of health benefit for you.

gramar

Do something you enjoy. I remember a few years ago being all excited about playing badminton. I went the first day and realised that an hour of badminton is a lot of badminton and probably more than I'd played in my life up to then and never went back.

D0NNELLY

Swimming

mahamageehad

Sex. Vary the positions for bonus points.

Fathom

Sports you actually play.

robyntmorton

All of them.

Essentially, if you are moving when you otherwise wouldn't be, it's good for you.

The mental health aspect can't be forgotten about either. Any exercise or activity that allows you to take your mind off things is excellent.

I think your confusing health benefits with strength and conditioning

hinault

blue note wrote: »

Obviously it's a very broad question and the answers will depend on the person in question as well as the sport / activity itself, but in general what sports and activities are the best for you and which are more just for enjoyment with limited health benefits?

I reckon a good rule of thumb is if it makes you tired it's good for you. And not just out of breath tired - the more your body aches the next day the better. From googling the question squash seems to come up as a very good one - rowing, boxing, swimming and a few others too.

But I wonder about how efficient some common forms of exercise are. Golf for example is a great game and I particularly like how long people can play it for. But it must be fairly minimal in terms of health benefit. Certainly not bad for you, but not amazing either.

And the ones I particularly wonder about are the likes of pilates and yoga. In the GAA off season I did some pilates (probably 1-2 times weekly for 4 months or so). It was kind of fun, but I'm not sure if it really did much good. We do 5-10 minutes of stretching before GAA training and the pilates largely felt like a prolonged version of that. An hour getting ready to exercise without ever actually exercising. Don't get me wrong, I better I got at it the harder I found the exercises as I was actually doing them right, but even by the end I was a bit skeptical about the whole thing.

Something else I enjoy is hiking. Again, I could be out for 6 hours walking up and down hills and mountains, but at the end of the day it's just a hard walk. I can't imagine it would come close to a 1 hour training session in terms of health benefit for you.

6 hour hike is probably more strenuous than a GAA football, rugby, hurling, soccer, match.

The sports that really put your system under physical stress are probably the most beneficial in terms of health.

Competitive running, competitive cycling, cross country skiing, are the most physically stressful sports.

daheff

mahamageehad wrote: »

Sex. Vary the positions for bonus points.

on your own or with friends

signostic

Swimming & Racquetball

http://www.livescience.com/57031-longer-lives-linked-to-swimming-racquetball.html#sthash.509R3B2s.gbpl

https://www.facebook.com/racquetballireland/

I like mountain and trail running, you get the benefits of running, long distance, but you get less of the harmful effects of long term running on tarred hard surfaces. Plus if you want to get away from it all and get some scenery, a nice run across a range is great.

Mr. CooL ICE

Powerlifting. I'm biased though, because I do it.

It is beneficial to me because I sit at a desk for living which usually leads to a weak posterior chain and/or terrible posture. Powerlifting, and similar strength sports pretty much correct the effect of sitting at a desk all day, when done right. Over time, it increases your bone density and lowers your centre of gravity which (ideally) reduces the chances of something like falling over and breaking your hip in your later years.

But as someone said above, the most beneficial exercise is the one you enjoy because moving is better than not moving at all.

Boom_Bap

D0NNELLY wrote: »

Swimming

This. Swimming uses everything and has the least impact on your body.

valoren

Best physical activity is walking. You can never walk enough. Walking, not strolling mind.
It's free too

Best sport for health would be triathlon I'd argue. 3 sports for the price of 1
You swim, stretch, do weight lifting, cycle, run etc.

Plus you have different course lengths.
From sprint races where you are all out focusing on raw speed up to Ironman length where you are mostly aerobic focusing on endurance.

blue note

blue note wrote: »

Obviously it's a very broad question and the answers will depend on the person in question as well as the sport / activity itself, but in general what sports and activities are the best for you and which are more just for enjoyment with limited health benefits?

I guess a lot of it would depend on what "benefits" you seek. Some sport will benefit your strength. Some you weight. Some your speed and flexibility. Some your endurance.

So when you are looking for the "best" sport - you likely have to identify your goals as some will be the "best" for one and not others. While others will be "best" at giving a diversity of those benefits without being the "best" at any one of them.

I try to focus on all of those benefits - so I do different things for each. I run at least an hour very early every morning and cycle at least an hour uphill every evening.

Other than that in the week I do BJJ and capoeira. And I do like the occasional swim - especially in the sea when I am at the coast.

I think this gives a good mix of all around benefit and my body is as honed and toned and as perfect as it is likely to ever get - given the extremely poor quality of what I originally had to work with :P

Shenshen

I decided on swimming and cycling. Both give you a good workout and get your heart-rate up, but both are very easy on your joints.
Well, if you avoid the potholes.

Galwayguy35

Walking for me, I enjoy it and IMO it's important to find the form of exercise you like to do, going to get a bike soon and start cycling as well.

Do a bit of weight lifting as well but wouldn't be mad into it.

Capt'n Midnight

underwater cross country skiing

RayM

I find that not doing any kind of physical exercise, and therefore never injuring myself, has been good for my health.

ceadaoin.

Low impact exercise like walking and swimming is just as good for you as those that leave you aching. Maybe even better for your joints and heart over the long term. The idea that the only exercise worth doing is one that leaves you exhausted and sore is ridiculous and a sure fire way to injure or over exert yourself

http://www.prevention.com/fitness/how-walking-healthier-running

I go for a 2-3 mile walk/hike with a bit of running 5 times a week. Been doing this for about 18 months combined with a bit of weights/toning exercises at home and I've never been fitter

kfallon

Darts

Swimming is fantastic as a no impact exercise that uses all major muscle groups, running is great for stamina and keeping bones strong, yoga is fantastic for flexibility. I do all three and really feel the combined benefits.

The best exercise is the one you stick with because you enjoy it.

Harry Palmr

Gardening/landscaping - not obvious until you try it, esp in this sort of clammy weather!

Shenshen

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Gardening/landscaping - not obvious until you try it, esp in this sort of clammy weather!

I'll second that - I've never been more sore than after digging/weeding the garden, or even digging and pulling up tree stumps.

JupiterKid

Swimming, cycling and walking. All good IMO. Unfortunately I don't do nearly enough of them.

RayM

kfallon wrote: »

Darts

I like watching darts, but I'd never play it. A bit too physical for me.

red ears

I think golf is underestimated as a healthy option. You will walk an average of 5 to 6 miles per round, often up and down steep hills. It can be played from ages 8 to 80 or so. During a round you will be swinging a club quite hard maybe 100 times. This involves quite a bit of force and stretching. Its not going to match running or football or cycling for those in their prime but it is not without health benefits. There is a healthy social aspect to it too.

Persephone kindness

Boom_Bap wrote: »

This. Swimming uses everything and has the least impact on your body.

That's why it's not good in one respect. Nothing for the bones.

Swimming and walking. You're covered