When starting a new exercise routine, chances are, you're going to experience some brand new or returning/familiar sensations in your body. This is a great time for you to check-in and become more aware with your body. This process may not always be easy or comfortable per se, but it is normal.
These are just a few of the most common changes that your body may experience during exercise.
1) Breathlessness
Changes in breathing are expected during exercise. You may notice that when sitting, or sleeping you have a slow breathing rate. However, as you exert yourself more with movement, your muscles required more oxygen to continue. As a result, your breathing rate increases and deepens to meet the demand.
2) Sweating
Sweating is a natural response to help your body regulate temperature. As you exercise, your body generates heat, and sweating helps cool you down. How much you sweat is impacted by several factors, including the intensity of exercise (more intense = more sweat), environmental conditions (hot and/or humid = more sweat), and individual differences.
3) Effort
Feelings of physical effort don't generally start until your body is experiencing some form of fatigue, or the intensity of the exercise is more strenuous. The threshold at which this starts will often begin to change alongside your fitness. For example, if you started a weights routine and found 5kg physically demanding, after a few months of consistency efforts, that same 5kg may no longer be challenging.
4) Increase in heart rate
Heart rate increase usually coincides with the increase in breathlessness. If you are not accustomed to regular exercise, this sensation may be a bit unsettling to begin with. Remember that this is a normal response to exercise, particularly with more strenuous exercise or exercise for longer. This response is your body making smart adjustments to accommodate to a more physically demanding situation.
Parting words
It's important to note that everyone's experience with exercise sensations may differ based on factors such as fitness level, age, and overall health. However, feeling breathless, sweaty, and feelings of exertion and heart rate are generally considered normal responses during physical activity.