Beach Volleyball Player Marta Menegatti in Two-Piece Workout Gear Shares “Olympic Memories”

USA Volleyball states, “Participating in any sport has benefits, but volleyball offers the opportunity for lessons that few other sports can. The volleyball community is a place where everyone is welcome and you can find a lifetime of play and competition. Volleyball brings families together to play and learn and offers the opportunity to create lifelong friendships and bonds. From character-building skills such as leadership, teamwork, respect and communication to the physical benefits of staying healthy and active, here are some of the things you can expect to gain by playing volleyball.”

Menegatti likes to run to keep herself in shape. She is seen doing so in this Instagram post of herself training. Valley Oaks Health states that running has a lot of benefits. “After going for a run, your body experiences a drop in the stress hormone cortisol. This reduction diminishes feelings of stress, allowing you to go about the rest of your day with less tension and anxiety. In addition to mitigating stress, running also invokes feelings of calmness. Following a run, your body releases chemicals called endocannabinoids. These chemicals flow through your bloodstream and into your brain, relaxing your mind and body.”

Menegatti likes to lift weights to keep herself in shape. She shared this video on Instagram of herself using a barbell at the gym. ACE Fitness states that using weights has a lot of benefits. “Strength training with heavy weights improves muscle definition. Muscle definition occurs as the result of muscles remaining in a state of semi-contraction and heavy strength training recruits the larger type II muscle fibers responsible for a muscle’s appearance.”

Menegatti likes to hike to keep herself in shape. She shares a lot of hiking photos on Instagram. Menegatti shared this photo of herself hiking by the ocean, and this photo of herself on a trail. Piedmont states that hiking has a lot of benefits. “Hiking is a weight-bearing exercise that builds muscle mass and helps prevent osteoporosis. Hiking can help you manage your weight. It is a joint-friendly form of exercise that can keep arthritis sufferers more limber and mobile.”

Menegatti shared this video on Instagram of herself doing yoga. Harvard Health states that yoga has a lot of benefits. “Yoga develops inner awareness. It focuses your attention on your body’s abilities at the present moment. It helps develop breath and strength of mind and body. It’s not about physical appearance. Yoga studios typically don’t have mirrors. This is so people can focus their awareness inward rather than how a pose — or the people around them — looks. Surveys have found that those who practiced yoga were more aware of their bodies than people who didn’t practice yoga. They were also more satisfied with and less critical of their bodies. For these reasons, yoga has become an integral part in the treatment of eating disorders and programs that promote positive body image and self-esteem.”