HEALTH & SPORT: The Essential Ally for Body and Mind
Faced with the rise in sedentary lifestyle-related illnesses, health and sports experts are unanimous: regular exercise remains the best way to protect your health. Far from being reserved for an elite group of athletes, physical activity is now established as a form of preventative medicine accessible to everyone.
When asked about this, Gounou Kora Abdou, a shopkeeper and sports coach, points out that the benefits of sport go far beyond mere aesthetic performance:
« Sport keeps the body healthy by strengthening the heart, muscles, and bones. It also reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. »
Beyond the physical, the mind also benefits. Regular exercise helps reduce anxiety, alleviate stress, promote restful sleep, and boost self-esteem—key ingredients for a better quality of life every day.
For a healthy adult, the coach recommends a simple goal: 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, or about 30 minutes per day, 5 days a week. To complement this program, he advises adding two weekly strength training sessions.
However, to ensure that exercise remains enjoyable, safety is paramount. Gounou Kora Abdou emphasizes a few golden rules to avoid injuries:
Always start with a progressive warm-up.
Adapt the effort to your own abilities and pay attention to your posture.
Use appropriate equipment and stay hydrated before, during, and after exercise.
Stretch at the end of your session and allow yourself proper recovery time.
The key is: if you experience sharp pain, stop immediately.
There’s no need to spend a fortune on a membership or block out entire afternoons. Brisk walking, running, cycling, skipping, or even simple bodyweight exercises (squats, push-ups, sit-ups, planks) can all be done at home, in a park, or on a local sports field.
For those with busy schedules, the coach offers reassurance:
« Even 20 to 30 minutes of activity a day is enough to feel a real difference. There’s no need to push yourself to the extreme; the secret lies in consistency. »
As non-communicable diseases continue to rise, physical activity is emerging as the simplest, least expensive, and most effective prescription. More than just a hobby, sport is a true art of living for healing the body and calming the mind.
✍️ Christian AKPAKPA (Intern)
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