How Working Out Can Help You - Mentally, Physically, and Spiritually
By Uthman Guadalupe
Maryland
Working out has positive benefits that come in many forms. You might think that working out is limited to going to the gym or owning expensive gym equipment, but even something simple like walking your kids to school every day or cycling can be enough.
Working out is a great way to keep your mind and body healthy, and can even strengthen your faith as a Muslim. Staying active has been proven to reduce symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety, and is also a great way of taking care of our bodies.
As a student, I sometimes feel overwhelmed when I have a bunch of assignments to do. Even though I do my best to stay on top of my work, it still happens, which leads to a lot of stress. One of the solutions I found to reduce the stress was to work out. A great way to get motivated is to slow down and take a break from all the work you have to do.
Working out releases endorphins and serotonin, which help reduce stress and anxiety. Even a short daily workout of 30 minutes is enough to boost your mood. Working out does not always have to be lifting weights or using heavy-duty equipment. There are many simple exercise routines that you can do at home without any equipment. These include push-ups, jumping jacks, squats, burpees,and more. Using these simple exercises and practicing them daily is more than enough to stay fit and healthy.
Another way that working out daily or even weekly is good for you is that it provides a sense of accomplishment. Sometimes it may feel like you are not doing anything productive or meaningful, which can affect your mood. If you have a goal of getting fit or staying healthy, working out is a small step that you can take daily to feel accomplished and satisfied.
Working out has several other physical benefits. Staying active regularly energizes you and strengthens bones, muscles, tissues, and flexibility. It also maintains a constant oxygen flow throughout your body, which helps your cardiovascular system and reduces the risk of heart problems.
As Muslims, we are encouraged to stay healthy and keep a positive attitude. Working out can help our physical body and overall attitude towards life. The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, in a few hadiths has emphasized how important it is for a Muslim to stay healthy. He said:
“There are two blessings that many people are deceived into losing: health and free time.”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari 6412 – Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas)
“A strong believer is better and is more lovable to Allah than a weak believer…”
(Sahih Muslim 2664 – Narrated by Abu Huraira)
In these two hadith, Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, states that staying healthy is a good way to improve our faith and be better Muslims. We must take good care of our bodies because they are gifted to us by Allah. This is why it is impermissible to do things that will cause us bodily harm such as smoking or drinking. This all shows how important it is in Islam to stay healthy.
Here are some simple exercises that you can do at home without any equipment:
- Pushups
- Squats
- Burpees
- Jumping Jacks
- Sit-ups
- Mountain Climbers
- Lunges
Here are two online resources to give you workout ideas and instructions to implement them.
- 11 Bodyweight Exercises to Challenge Every Muscle Group | The Output by Peloton
- 13 Body-Burning Moves That Require No Weights
Exercise can help you significantly, and it benefits not only your physical self but mentally and spiritually as well. Simple activities like going on a short walk or small home activities can positively affect your well-being, improving your physical capabilities, reducing stress and anxiety, and giving you a sense of accomplishment needed to feel fulfilled. Additionally, as Muslims, we are required to take care of our bodies. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, has encouraged us to care for our bodies, as they are a gift from Allah (SWT). By exercising, we can keep our bodies healthy and also take care of this gift, which will enable us to live a more peaceful and happy life.
(Uthman Guadalupe is a Latino Muslim college student with a passion for history and art. He is an assistant Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach and freelance illustrator. He is fluent in Spanish and lives with his family in Maryland where he also enjoys playing video games and binging shows.)
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