Boost Your Emotional Health with Fitness
People who love leading a fit lifestyle often concentrate on the physical aspects of fitness. While the physical benefits of staying in shape and eating a healthy diet are obviously wonderful, the emotional health benefits of a fit lifestyle are also important. Being emotionally fit has more to do with physical activity and healthy living than you might think.
The Science Behind Exercise and Depression
When you exercise, your body produces chemicals called serotonin and endorphins. These chemicals in the brain help relieve depression. Physical activity gives your emotions a very real boost that has been scientifically proven in many studies. Endorphins are the feel-good chemicals that energize you when you exercise. You don’t have to train for a marathon to enjoy the emotional benefits of exercise. Even moderate amounts of physical activity can put you in a better mood. Stay on a regular schedule of exercise, and you will be less likely to relapse into depression.
Besides releasing serotonin and endorphins, exercise works other changes in the brain, such as creating new activity patterns, neural growth, and reducing inflammation. Plus, it gives you something different to think about, distracting you from the problems that cause your thoughts to plummet.
Appropriate Exercises to Improve Emotional Health
The good news: it doesn’t really matter how you exercise. Most forms of physical activity help improve your emotional health! Whether you enjoy an early morning gym session, a brisk walk around the block, or active gardening, you can immediately begin exercising and reaping the emotional benefits. In fact, Julie Walther Scheibel, MEd, a counselor at Concordia Seminary Counseling and Resource Center in St. Louis, Mo. says there is no excuse not to exercise. Do the type of physical activity that works with your schedule, your budget, and your lifestyle. You might try one of these:
- A combination of cardio, body weight, and kettlebell training
- Swimming
- A group exercise class
- Yoga
- Playing catch with your kids
- Martial arts
- Dancing to music in your home
- Walking your dog
Tips to Keep in Mind
Don’t Wait!
Begin exercising today to improve your emotional health. It begins to work immediately. If you start right away, you’ll be fighting half the battle against emotional problems. The hardest part is often changing the way you live.
Keep Up a Routine
Think about times that work best for physical activity during your day. Is it during your lunch break? When the kids are taking a nap? In the morning before the rest of the family is awake? Try to keep a regular schedule of physical activity. Once you make a habit, you’ll be less likely to stop. How much should you exercise? The schedule could vary from person to person. Try aiming for 30 minutes total activity most days of the week. This could be broken up into smaller sessions, if that works better for you.
Be Mindful When You Exercise
Mindfulness is a natural part of yoga, but it can be incorporated into any exercise routine. Concentrate on the way your feet beat against the ground, the rhythm of your arms as you lift weights, your breathing as you dance. When you place your thoughts on the physical aspects of the exercise, you can take your focus off your negative thoughts or the things making you anxious.
Diet and Depression
Much can be said about the connections between a healthy diet and improving emotional health. Wholesome diets tend to be low in sugar and high in healthy fats. When you cut out sugary snacks, caffeine, alcohol, trans fat, and fried food, you improve your physical health, boost your energy, and give yourself a better self-image. All these things support your brain health and affect the way you feel.
Learn More About Boosting Emotional Health
Give yourself an emotional health boost by beginning a fitness routine today! You will love the way you think and feel.
Stay healthy my friends!
Dixon Troyer is the President of Operations at 3 Elements Lifestyle, LLC., a Fitness and Weight Loss company that specializes in YOU! With more than 15 years of gym and club experience, owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Dixon lectures, delivers seminars and workshops on the practical skills required to successfully help you with your health and fitness goals. Dixon also helps you build the teamwork, management, and training necessary to open your own fitness center.
Visit his website or email or call (805) 499-3030.
