How playing sports benefits your body ... and your brain - Leah Lagos and Jaspal Ricky Singh

Translator: Klavdija Cernilogar Reviewer: Nika Kotnik

The victory of the underdog over the favored team.

Zmaga šibkejše ekipe proti favoritom.

The last minute penalty shot that wins the tournament.

Kazenski strel v zadnjem trenutku, ki odloči turnir.

The high-energy training montages.

Energični treningi.

Many people love to glorify victory on the playing field,

Mnogi poveličujejo zmage na igrišču,

cheer for favorite teams,

navijajo za najljubšo ekipo

and play sports.

ter se ukvarjajo s športom.

But here's a question: Should we be so obsessed with sports?

Toda: je prav, da smo tako obsedeni s športom?

Is playing sports actually as good for us as we make it out to be,

Je šport res tako koristen, kot pravijo,

or just a fun and entertaining pastime?

ali je le zabaven način preživljanja prostega časa?

What does science have to say?

Kaj pravi znanost?

First of all, it's well accepted that exercise is good for our bodies and minds,

Na splošno velja, da je gibanje dobro za telo in um,

and that's definitely true.

to zagotovo drži.

Exercising, especially when we're young, has all sorts of health benefits,

Gibanje, predvsem pri mladih, zelo koristi zdravju,

like strengthening our bones,

krepi kosti, na primer,

clearing out bad cholesterol from our arteries,

odstranjuje slab holesterol iz arterij,

and decreasing the risk of stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

zmanjšuje tveganje za kap, visok krvni pritisk in diabetes.

Our brains also release a number of chemicals when we workout,

Možgani med športom sproščajo številne kemikalije,

including endorphins.

tudi endorfine.

These natural hormones,

Ti naravni hormoni,

which control pain and pleasure responses in the cental nervous system,

ki v živčevju nadzorujejo odziv na bolečino in užitek,

can lead to feelings of euphoria, or, what's often called, a runner's high.

lahko vodijo v evforijo, kar je pogosto pri tekačih.

Increased endorphins and consistent physical activity in general

Več endorfinov ter splošno konsistentna fizična aktivnost

can sharpen your focus and improve your mood and memory.

okrepi zbranost ter izboljša počutje in spomin.

So does that mean we get just as much benefit going to the gym five days a week

Mar to pomeni, da imamo enake koristi, če gremo petkrat na teden v telovadnico,

as we would joining a team and competing?

kot če tekmujemo z ekipo?

Well, here's where it gets interesting:

Tu postane stvar bolj zanimiva:

because it turns out that if you can find a sport and a team you like,

izkaže se, da če se ukvarjate s športom v ekipi, ki vam je všeč,

studies show that there are all sorts of benefits

to prinese različne druge dobre učinke,

that go beyond the physical and mental benefits of exercise alone.

poleg fizičnih in umskih koristi.

Some of the most significant are psychological benefits,

Nekaj najpomembnejših koristi je psiholoških,

both in the short and long term.

tako kratko- kot dolgoročnih.

Some of those come from the communal experience of being on a team,

Deloma gre za izkušnjo sodelovanja,

for instance, learning to trust and depend on others,

naučimo se recimo zaupati in zanašati se na druge,

to accept help,

sprejemati pomoč,

to give help,

pomagati,

and to work together towards a common goal.

sodelovati pri doseganju skupnega cilja.

In addition, commitment to a team and doing something fun

Predanost ekipi ter zabava pri športu

can also make it easier to establish a regular habit of exercise.

tudi olajšata vzpostavitev navad rednega gibanja.

School sport participation has also been shown

Športno udejstvovanje v šoli

to reduce the risk of suffering from depression for up to four years.

naj bi za do štiri leta znižalo tveganje za depresijo.

Meanwhile, your self-esteem and confidence can get a big boost.

Samozavest in samopodoba pa se okrepita.

There are a few reasons for that.

Za to obstaja nekaj razlogov.

One is found in training.

Eden je v treningu.

Just by working and working at skills,

Trud za izboljšanje veščin,

especially with a good coach,

posebej z dobrim trenerjem,

you reinforce a growth mindset within yourself.

okrepi smisel za osebno rast.

That's when you say, "Even if I can't do something today,

Takrat si rečeš: "Tudi če danes tega ne zmorem,

I can improve myself through practice and achieve it eventually."

se lahko z vajo izboljšam in to nekoč dosežem."

That mindset is useful in all walks of life.

Tak način razmišljanja je koristen za vse plati življenja.

And then there's learning through failure,

Potem je tu učenje iz neuspeha,

one of the most transformative, long-term benefits of playing sports.

kar je ena najpomembnejših dolgoročnih koristi športa.

The experience of coming to terms with defeat can build the resilience

Soočanje s porazom krepi vzdržljivost

and self-awareness necessary to manage academic,

ter zavedanje, ki je pomembno za premagovanje akademskih,

social,

družbenih

and physical hurdles.

in fizičnih ovir.

So even if your team isn't winning all the time, or at all,

Tudi če tvoja ekipa ne zmaga vedno, ali sploh nikoli,

there's a real benefit to your experience.

izkušnja prinaša koristi.

Now, not everyone will enjoy every sport.

Seveda ne uživajo vsi v vsakem športu.

Perhaps one team is too competitive,

Morda je ena ekipa preveč tekmovalna

or not competitive enough.

ali pač premalo.

It can also take time to find a sport that plays to your strengths.

Morda je težko najti šport, ki ustreza tvojim sposobnostim.

That's completely okay.

To je čisto v redu.

But if you spend some time looking,

A če malo pobrskaš,

you'll be able to find a sport that fits your individual needs,

boš našla šport, ki ustreza tvojim potrebam,

and if you do, there are so many benefits.

in če je tako, te čaka veliko koristnega.

You'll be a part of a supportive community,

Postala boš del podporne skupnosti,

you'll be building your confidence,

okrepila si boš samozavest,

you'll be exercising your body,

tvoje telo bo v gibanju,

and you'll be nurturing your mind,

um se bo krepil,

not to mention having fun.

pa še zabavno bo.