Is strengthening your muscles really that healthy or is it a feel good thing for many of us? For example, I like to go to the gym and lift weights, my wife prefers yoga, and my father uses sand bags and stretch bands to work out. We all enjoy our exercise, they all strengthen muscles and make us feel good, but really what are the health benefits? We'd probably all do them just for the mental benefits but there are at least 6 physical health benefits as well, especially as we age
Specifically, strengthening your muscles:
1) Improves circulation and helps reduce your blood pressure. Although my circulation is fine so far, I have borderline hypertension or high blood pressure, so this one really matters to me! This one directly effects me.
2) Improves blood flow though your muscles by dilating the blood vessels in your muscles. Especially important as you age.
3) Helps you keep breathing well by strengthening muscles involved in breathing. Any exercise that gets you breathing deeply helps here whether aerobic like walking or primarily anaerobic like lifting weights or using weight machines.
4) Increases endurance, and most of us can use more endurance especially as we age.
5) Helps assist with keeping us trim. Did you know muscle is more compact and healthier than fat. If you weight 200 pounds and are six foot tall, you might be fit and trim or obese and rotund, depending on how much muscle and fat you have.
6) Lowers your risk for type 2 diabetes. Exercise strengthens the heart, lowers blood sugar, and improves insulin sensitivity, which are all important to diabetics and those at risk.

Strong muscles matter regardless of your age but may be most important when we age as they tend to atrophy if we let them. Anything you do to strengthen your muscles is great for you!