Many of us exercise to look and feel stronger.
But why do we share this common goal?
Well, because feeling strong is empowering, both physically and mentally. It makes you feel like you can conquer anything the world throws at you, and let’s face it, who doesn’t want to feel confident and powerful?
But for young women especially, strength training can come with barriers to entry. Gym intimidation, lack of body confidence and a fear of becoming too “bulky” can hold people back. Online strength workouts can help you overcome these fears, and enjoy all the wonderful benefits of strength training from home.
We’re unpacking everything you need to know about strength training online, and how it has the power to improve your everyday life.
What is strength training?
If you’re new to the world of fitness or haven’t done much strength work, you might not know what strength training entails. First off, strength training can be defined as any type of exercise that enhances the ability of your muscles.
Strength training can improve your sporting performance by increasing your muscular power and endurance, and it can improve your daily life by helping you complete physical tasks with ease.
And the best part? There are many fun ways to improve your strength, so no matter how you like to work out, there’s something for everyone. Whether you like weight lifting, endurance training, HIIT or cycling, strength training is an effective way to build and support your muscles so that you can live your best life.
The importance of strength and conditioning
Strength training is important in a range of different contexts.
Firstly, it’s an effective way to vastly improve your sporting abilities. It helps you get the most out of your every move by increasing your power, force and endurance.
But strength training goes far beyond enhancing your athletic performance, as it also improves your everyday functioning and quality of life. For most people, this is the goal of strength training.
It can help you lift heavier boxes, run faster when you’re about to miss the train and carry more grocery bags from the car in one trip. It also supports your muscles and bones as you age, keeping you active and strong.
In fact, it’s even been found that regular strength training can decrease your likelihood of dying prematurely, as it keeps you healthier for longer.
So as you can probably tell, strength training is super important for many reasons, and it’s something that should be incorporated into everyone’s fitness routines.
How much strength training do I need to do to feel the benefits?
According to Australia’s physical activity guidelines, on top of exercising regularly, Australian adults should engage in strengthening exercises at least twice a week.
But, like anything fitness related, strength is something that needs to be maintained, so if you don’t keep it up, you’ll need to start your journey from scratch.
If twice a week sounds like a lot, don’t fret. It’s also been found that 30–60 minutes a week is sufficient, even if this only takes one session.
And if you can only do 10–20 minutes a week, that’s fine too. It’s important to just stay consistent. Whether it’s a few push ups when you wake up, or a couple of lunges whilst waiting for your kettle to boil, a little bit here and there is all you need to get started. And who knows, those little bouts of exercise may motivate you to complete an entire strength session later in the day.
So, to see the benefits, you must be consistent. As long as you’re working on your strength frequently, you’ll find yourself improving overtime.
Benefits of strength training
People who consistently work on their strength will see a lot of improvements. Strength training has the ability to:
- Improve athletic performance
- Speed up recovery
- Improve quality of life
- Enhance overall mental and physical strength
- Prevent injuries
- Enhance weight loss
- Speed up metabolism
- Improve posture
- Strengthen bones
- Improve mood and mental health
Build your strength with Steppen
Whether you’re new to exercise or a long-time fitness buff, Steppen has workouts to meet your every need.
Our extensive workout library has a range of effective strengthening workouts for all fitness levels, and if you want to change things up, you can even create a workout of your own.
Improving your strength will enhance your fitness performance and overall quality of life.
But remember that strength doesn’t happen overnight. It needs to be trained and nurtured, and Steppen is here to help.
So don’t be discouraged if you’re not there yet. Keep working at it, and you’ll look and feel strong in no time.
Are you ready to work your muscles? Download the Steppen app today.
