Best Exercises for Overall Health and Fitness

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Working out is the fun and energetic part of the day for many fitness enthusiasts out there. But let’s face it, that’s not always the case. Between work deadlines, endless scrolling, and those “just one more episode” nights, it’s pretty easy to push exercise to the bottom of the to-do list.
But here’s the deal: working out isn’t just about looking better in the mirror. It’s about having more energy, lifting your mood, and simply feeling good in your own skin. And while many of us have our go-to routines, what if they’re not really working for us?
That’s why we’ve rounded up the best workouts and mixed them into one fabulously balanced routine so you can enjoy moving your body and actually get the results you’re after.
Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic exercise falls under the cardio and is one of the fun workouts to be part of. These exercises have a bunch of activities that get your heart beating faster and make your breathing a little faster. Aerobic workouts are known to be best for several reasons :
- Better heart health: Your heart is a muscle, and cardio is the workout for it. It helps you get stronger and better at pumping blood that allows your whole body to function more smoothly.
- Lifts Your Mood: These workouts release feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which are known to make you feel more upbeat after moving around.
- Improves Metabolism: Aerobic exercise is known to burn those extra calories and helps with weight management, and gives the metabolism a little nice push
Coming back to you, a fun way to do cardio can be as follows:
- Walking
- Running
- Jogging
- Jump rope
- Dancing
- Cycling
- Swimming
- High knees
- Stair climbing
- Marching in place
Strength Training
Strength training is the part of your workout routine that makes you stronger. These workouts increase your strength and stamina, resulting in a strong body. Universal trainer is recommended by most trainers for strength building.
- Build Muscle and Strength: The more you work on your muscles, the stronger they get. But it doesn't have to mean bulking up like a bodybuilder. Depending on your fitness goals, you can have more power and stamina.
- Better Bone Strength: Lifting your own body weight or using resistance helps keep your bones dense and healthy.
- Improve Balance and Daily Function: A strong body means being more stable and doing daily tasks with ease.
While this workout has many benefits, the best part is that you can do it with gym equipment or even at your home gym, whichever suits you best.
- Push-ups
- Squats
- Lunges
- Planks
- Deadlifts
- Bent-over rows
- Glute bridges
- Bicep curls
- Tricep dips
- Leg raises
Flexibility and Stretching
Flexibility is the thing that comes with the gym and workouts. As stretching and flexibility help to stay mobile, avoid aches and move with ease.
The flexibility works wonders in many ways.
- Maintain Mobility: Stretching keeps muscles and joints flexible so you can move freely without feeling stiff
- Support Good Posture: Regular stretching reduces muscle tension, thus preventing that hunched-over feeling.
- Decrease Injury Risk: As we age, our muscles become tighter, increasing the risk of injuries. Stretching helps keep muscles long, loose, and less prone to strain.
When it comes to stretching, there are two types
- Static Stretching: It involves holding the stretch for 15-30 seconds for muscles to lengthen and relax. Examples include touching your toes, a hamstring stretch, or a quad stretch.
- Dynamic Stretch: It involves moving through a full range of motion in a controlled manner, like leg swings, arm circles, or torso twists.
How to Incorporate These Exercises Into Your Workout Routine
Now that you have an idea of which workout is best for your overall body, just doing strength or cardio will not be the ideal way to keep your body balanced and your workout exciting. So, how about we weave aerobic, strength, flexibility, and balance exercises into a routine that works for you?
Start With a Warm-up
The first thing to do is light aerobic exercise to stretch your muscles and get your heart pumping. A brisk 5-minute walk or some light cycling is perfect.
Build That Power
After a warm-up, proceed to the strengthening exercise. Start with bodyweight exercises like push-ups, squats, and lunges, or use resistance bands to increase the intensity.
Don’t Forget to Cool Down
Completing the strength training now includes a few balance exercises to challenge your stability. Try single-leg stands, yoga poses, or even tai chi movements to give your muscles a little recovery time
Add Variety for Long-Term Benefits
Besides avoiding getting bored, you should switch up your workout routine every couple of weeks. You can alternate between more focus on cardio one day and strength training the next day. The focus is to mix up these four types of exercises (aerobic, strength, balance, and flexibility) throughout your week.
Day |
Focus |
Activities |
Monday |
Full Body + Cardio |
- 10 min brisk walk or jog (aerobic) - Push-ups, squats, lunges (strength) - Single-leg stand (balance) - Full-body stretch (flexibility) |
Tuesday |
Cardio + Core |
- 20 min cycling or swimming (aerobic) - Plank holds, leg raises (strength/core) - Yoga warrior pose (balance) - Hamstring & back stretch |
Wednesday |
Rest or Light Movement |
- Gentle walk or easy yoga flow - Dynamic stretching (mobility focus) |
Thursday |
Lower Body Strength + Balance |
- 5 min warm-up walk - Squats, glute bridges, step-ups (strength) - Tai chi movements (balance) - Hip & quad stretch |
Friday |
Cardio + Upper Body |
- 15 min treadmill run (aerobic) - Push-ups, tricep dips, resistance band rows (strength) - Balance on BOSU or cushion - Shoulder and chest stretches |
Saturday |
Flexibility & Balance Focus |
- Gentle yoga session (balance & flexibility) - Static stretching (all major muscles) |
Sunday |
Active Recovery / Light Cardio |
- Easy hike or bike ride (aerobic) - Light stretching (flexibility) |
Why Consistency and Enjoyment Matter in Your Workouts
Now that you have the whole workout ready, you might get energy for the first few days. But then, what if you are in a small way where you are inconsistent? A gym and a workout are things where, no matter what, you have to show up. Sticking to a workout routine over time is what helps you feel stronger, healthier, and happier.
Why it’s essential to be consistent:
- Your body gets stronger when you move regularly and not just once in a while.
- You build habits that make it easier to stay active in the long run.
- It helps with better sleep, mood, and energy every day.
The secret is to keep up with exercise. You should do what makes you happy. Let's say you hate running, it's better to do biking or even dancing. Because when you enjoy what you are doing, it will not feel like a chore
How to stick to your routine:
- Start small, even 10–15 minutes is great!
- Pick a schedule that fits your life (not the other way around).
- Be flexible if you miss a day, that’s okay. Just start again.
- Track your progress to keep you motivated.
- Work out with a friend, it’s more fun and keeps you accountable.
Wrapping Up
Finally, before beginning, the best workout for the overall body is not the hardest or the longest one. it is the one with whom you stick for the longest. It can be those few squats or even a power walk; all of these add up. Besides, when you mix aerobic, strength, balance, and flexibility exercises into your week they work like a charm for your body to boost mood, energy and overall health
Taking your fitness routine to the next level, Bodyore has everything you need. Join the Bodykore community today and power up your workouts innovatively and sustainably.