Keeping it strong is key in staying youthful and preventing stress, injury, and chronic disease down the road.

Even if you don’t love the gym, you can find different ways to reap the amazing benefits of regular exercise and general physical movement. There are many ways to get out and play—moving your body, working your muscles, and strengthening that mind-body connection that is so extremely important to optimal wellbeing.

We’ve known for quite some time that aerobic exercise benefits cardiovascular health, but we’re now seeing that all types of movement, even slow and mindful practices like yoga and tai chi, additionally benefit our body through decreases in blood pressure, body mass index, and even cholesterol.

Science is also showing additional physical benefits from movement, ranging from supporting brain health and cognition to balancing our stress response signals.

A study published in Neurology Journal found a strong correlation between middle-aged women who were highly fit and a delayed onset of dementia. Those who were considered at medium-level fitness had a higher risk of dementia with an earlier onset than those who were at a high-level of fitness.