It is very important to do activities that have benefits for our health. Some of you might not be aware of how good following a sports team is for your health. I am going to reveal my five major health benefits of supporting a sports team. It doesn’t matter what team or what sport, finding a team to support will really benefit your health.

Make no mistake I am not talking about playing for the team, you don’t need me to tell you that that is good for your health, I am talking about supporting the team.

So what are the benefits?

1. Physical activity – yes I am still taking about supporting the team not playing for it. When your team are playing a big game you get lots of physical activity. Firstly, all of us who support a team recognise the anticipation of the game, we spend the morning of a big game pacing the floor, up and down, up and down, we walk for miles building our muscles and lung capacity as we go. Then during the game’ when our team is attacking’ about to score a goal, try, basket, run, touchdown, doesn’t matter what sport we stand up and sit down, jump up and down get really excited, this means plenty of aerobic activity, then if they score we jump up and down madly, wave our arms about, its like a keep fit class.

2. Fresh air – what better way to get fresh air than to go out and watch your team? Different games take different lengths of time, cricket can last five days, five days of fresh air and sunshine. Football is a little less time consuming only 90 minutes play plus half-time and time added on, a whole afternoon in the fresh air. Who wouldn’t benefit from that?

3. Friendship – when you go and watch you team you may well go with friends, even if you don’t you will meet lots of like-minded people at the ground (make sure you are sitting with the fans of your team, not the opposition that could mean things go very wrong). You will leap around together when your team scores, hug one another (and I need only refer you to my own article on hugging to remind you of the benefits of that) and you will discuss philosophical topics such as why the goalkeeper cannot make a save, which of the opposition players looks the most silly, the possibilities are endless. Most importantly you will sing songs together creating feelings of great companionship and camaraderie as well as exercising your lungs.

4. Sleep – Do you have trouble sleeping? Well when you are preparing to watch a game at home what better way to doze on your sofa on a weekend afternoon than in front of the warm up game that doesn’t involve your team? Sleep is restorative and restful and a good sports game can lull you into a great restful doze which is a very important weekend pastime.

5. Stress release – It is true that some people get very worked up when watching sport ,and perhaps they are not releasing stress quite as they should, but for those of us with a normal healthy interest it has been proved that having interests outside of work and the home helps to relieve stress. There is nothing quite as calming as forgetting all about work and any other problems and really getting behind your team cheering, singing, meeting people, discussing the players and, if we are lucky, celebrating goals!

So it doesn’t matter what the sport is or how good the team are go out and find yourselves a team to support it will have endless benefits for your health and well-being and you can have some fun as well, and what is better for your health than fun, friendship, fresh air, exercise and a good old indulgent doze?