7 Muscle Groups for Social Fitness

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up on our daily tasks, responsibilities, social media scrolls, and the pursuit of happiness and physical fitness. While all of these play a role in our life, a vital component often gets overlooked: meaningful social relations.

Last week, I heard about the concept of “social fitness” through a podcast for the first time. Just as physical fitness improves our bodies, social fitness nurtures the depth and quality of our relationships, enhancing our overall well-being. Recent studies have shown that building and maintaining authentic social connections is not only beneficial for our mental and emotional health, but also for our physical health and longevity!

So taking the time to spend quality time with friends and family has profound effects on our happiness and health. Think of it as a workout for our soul—an anti-stress that allows us to experience joy in the company of others.

When we are with loved ones, we release a cascade of good and healthy hormones. A simple hug can trigger the release of oxytocin, the bonding hormone, which promotes feelings of trust and connection. And as we all know, laughter is contagious and a powerful way to enjoy life.

Yet, we often assume that once we have our group of friends and family, the relationships keep up and thrive on their own throughout the years. But, much like weight training maintains our physical strength, relationships require care and nurturing. Regular calls, visits, conversations, and being there for each other are essential to grow and keep those bonds real and strong.

Each person in our life has a unique role and basically mirrors the muscle groups in our body. They bring out the best in us in different ways and all together they make us better persons. 

Here are 7 muscle groups for our relationships.  

1. Support: Who is the first person you call in the middle of the night? 
2. Partner in Crime: Who encourages you to try new things? 
3. Loyal Confidante: Who knows you better? 
4. Cheerful Companion: Who shares unique experiences with you? 
5. Love of your life: Who do you love deeply? 
6. Mentor: Who is your wisest person to reach out to? 
7. Fun Companion: Who makes you laugh? 

Wrapping up this blog, remember that our physical health is one part of our overall well-being.  It goes along with our emotional health, and the positive impact of sharing moments with loved ones adds to this equation.

And as a bonus: Exercising with friends and family contributes even more to your overall well-being!

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In good health!

Ale

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