Let’s Get Moving! Benefits of More Exercise in Your Daily Life

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to let movement take a backseat to convenience—but our bodies were made to move. Whether it’s a brisk walk around the block, a few stretches between meetings, or dancing while doing the dishes, adding more physical activity to your day can lead to powerful improvements in your physical, mental, and emotional health. 

In this article, Peyton Bovie, fitness specialist at Riverside Healthcare Fitness Center, discusses how even small bursts of movement can boost energy, reduce stress, and help you feel your best—no gym membership required. And yet, he also shares the various fitness offerings available from Riverside, including gym assessments and exercise orientations.

Overcoming Exercise Fears

Many first-time gym-goers express concern about looking “silly,” but Bovie reassures that everyone feels that way at first. The hardest part is just getting started. While fear is normal, building a consistent routine often leads to enjoyment and confidence. In her experience, those who stick with it end up loving the process. It all comes down to consistency.

“It doesn't have to be anything crazy. You don't have to be at the gym for two or three hours. You can go for a nice, simple walk around the neighborhood and it will make you feel so much better,” he notes.

Top Benefits of Moving Your Body

Per Bovie, incorporating more exercise or physical activity into your daily routine can lead to a wide range of health and wellness benefits, including the following. 

Physical Health Benefits

• Improved Cardiovascular Health: Regular activity strengthens the heart and improves circulation, lowering the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
• Weight Management: Exercise helps burn calories and build muscle, supporting healthy weight loss or maintenance.
• Stronger Muscles and Bones: Resistance and weight-bearing activities improve muscle tone and bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
• Enhanced Flexibility and Balance: Stretching, yoga, and stability exercises improve range of motion and help prevent falls, especially in older adults.
• Boosted Immune Function: Moderate, regular exercise can strengthen the immune system and help ward off illnesses.

Mental and Emotional Benefits

• Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Physical activity triggers the release of endorphins and serotonin, promoting relaxation and better mood.
• Improved Sleep: People who are regularly active often fall asleep faster and enjoy deeper, more restful sleep.
• Enhanced Cognitive Function: Exercise supports brain health, improving memory, focus, and even reducing the risk of cognitive decline with age.
• Better Mood and Self-Esteem: Feeling stronger, more energized, and achieving fitness goals can lead to greater self-confidence and overall happiness.

Lifestyle and Long-Term Benefits

• Increased Energy Levels: Regular movement helps boost stamina and reduce fatigue throughout the day.
• Chronic Disease Prevention and Management: Exercise plays a key role in preventing or managing conditions like type-2 diabetes, arthritis, and certain cancers.
• Greater Longevity: Active individuals tend to live longer, healthier lives with fewer years of disability or illness.
• Improved Quality of Life: Consistent physical activity supports mobility, independence, and a greater sense of well-being.

Why Choose Riverside for Your Fitness Efforts and Goals?

Riverside offers a wide range of free wellness and fitness resources designed to support people at every stage of their fitness journey. Highlights include access to a pool with popular water walking and aquatic classes—great for recovery, therapy, and low-impact workouts. 

For those needing extra support with balance or coordination, the TRX Band offers stability for modified strength exercises like sit-to-stands. Members can also take advantage of free fitness assessments and guided gym orientations with certified trainers, who provide customized exercise plans and equipment settings for a stress-free start.

“We have our fitness assessments, and you can also do an exercise orientation. If you have questions about fitness, we are there to answer any of your concerns. Our fitness specialists will give you a guided tour of the gym and prescribe you exercises you need to meet your goals,” shares Bovie. “For example, a lot of people come in and tell me, ‘My goal is to lose 20 pounds.’ I'm like, okay, that's a fine goal, but let's look more into these numbers. Because if you're gaining muscle mass and losing fat, those numbers will even out. Let's look more into the numbers where you can get your body fat percentage and your lean muscle mass at an optimal range.”

Group classes are abundant, including cycling, yoga (and chair yoga), Zumba, circuit-based strength HIIT (high-intensity interval training), Pilates, and “Rock Steady” boxing—a favorite among members with Parkinson’s due to its symptom-slowing benefits. The facility also features the Volt app for guided, personalized workouts and a Body Script machine for detailed body composition analysis beyond just tracking weight. With over a dozen pool classes and a supportive community environment, Riverside makes it easy and enjoyable to stay active.

Still, Bovie assures community members that they don’t have to be a “gym rat” to reap the benefits of more physical activity. “Doing something is always better than doing nothing,” he assures. “Performing some form of physical activity, whether it's walking around your neighborhood or taking the stairs instead of an elevator is always better than just sitting on the couch.”

To learn more about Riverside Health Fitness Center, visit riversidehealthfitness.com or call 815-929-1200