Agility: A Major key to Mental and Physical Wellness

Agility is a combination of the ability to physically and mentally move one’s body quickly with great balance and control. In exercise and physical fitness agility movements can be beneficial in improving hand-eye coordination, increasing speed, power, endurance, balance and overall weight loss. Agility training is typically referenced in highly competitive athletic training settings, however these exercises are not limited to an elite or professional athletes experience anymore, and in fact they benefit people in all stages of life. Such exercises can be taught as early as adolescents and research shares that there are benefits to these cardiovascular exercises at a young age.

Additionally, the variation in exercises can be sport specific or used to create a cardiovascular workout for anyone who wants to lose weight and strengthen their overall endurance. Research has also determined that agility exercises are benefiting both clients in-group fitness sessions and in one on one sessions with personal trainers. The exercises range from a low to high intensity with short breaks in between. This exercise pattern increases one’s heart rate and assist in weight loss. Something worth noting with physical agility that some of the benefits are more visible than others.

Agility equipment ranges in price, however much of the most commonly used equipment for an example: footwork ladders, agility cones, jump ropes, hurdles, and reaction balls (which can be substituted with a tennis ball) are all relatively inexpensive. Agility workouts benefit personal trainers who facilitate boot camp like sessions as the equipment needed can be easily transported to local parks for their workout sessions. Additionally, the clients can benefit monetarily, but if they cannot afford a monthly fitness center membership, they can attend personal trainer sessions and once the clients learns the techniques they can decide if they want to continue with the personal trainer or purchase equipment to do these exercises on their own.

Mental agility exercises can consist of but is not limited to physical activity where a quick controlled reaction is required. This type of agility is focused more on memory and brain functionality. This goes back to the notion that agility exercises are only for athletes who compete regularly, it is simply not true. Agility exercises such as crossword puzzles are reactionary based and allow participants to think quickly. These activates are capable of assisting in memory engagement and eye coordination.

Suggested activities that can benefit someone’s mental agility include but are not limited to; eating a healthy breakfast, participating in physical activity regularly, reading and playing games. With on going development of technology a new and innovative type of access to mental agility enhancing games are available. For an example, there are several games that are available on electronic devices and social networks; Words with Friends, Candy Crush, Memory Matches, and Luminosity, which is listed as the number one brain training mini game application. These games are accessible for those who have access to a computer and or smart phone device. Like physical fitness, mental agility helps to train muscles in the brain.

Having access to the tools that can assist with enhancing mental agility are not limited to technology or having access to it. Getting resources can include visiting your local library, purchasing newspapers and or cross word books, and reading which are also relatively inexpensive activates. Additionally attending local events that are offered through local organizations. Each of these strategies emphasizes the idea of learning something new which will help one’s mental agility and potentially the quality of life. The benefits of agility exercises should be celebrated and not under estimated. They are cost-effective and can assist in keeping your physical and mental well-being strong.

First published by Roc with Happy Nappy and Fit on April 2, 2016.