Exercise is not only important for physical health, but it can also have a positive effect on mental health. Studies have shown that regular physical activity can reduce stress, improve mood and even help to prevent depression and anxiety. So how does exercise help mental health and how can it be used to improve overall wellbeing.

Exercise for Better Moods & Improved Self-Esteem

Exercise is a great way to improve your mood and self-esteem. It can help you feel better about yourself and your life, increase your energy levels, and help you focus on positive things. Exercise can also help you manage stress levels and ease anxiety. With regular physical activity, you can build self-esteem by setting achievable goals and seeing the results of your hard work.

Types of Exercises That Can Improve Your Mental Health

Exercise can be a great way to improve mental health and reduce stress.  In addition to the physical benefits of exercise, there are also psychological benefits such as improved self-confidence and improved concentration.

Yoga

Yoga can be helpful with stress relief and mental clarity. It can help to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body. Cortisol is released when you experience high levels of stress, causing symptoms such as rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, and feelings of nervousness. In addition, yoga has been shown to be beneficial for improving mood and reducing anxiety. Some poses in yoga are particularly helpful with anxiety relief. The hero pose helps with anxiety relief by focusing on breathing while bringing awareness to our internal body.

Aerobic Exercise

Aerobic exercise is any physical activity that makes your heart beat quickly. It can help improve your attention span, mood, memory, sleep quality, thinking skills, and overall cognitive function. The key benefit of aerobic exercise is that it increases the amount of blood flow in the brain which activates more oxygen-rich neurons in order to create new neural connections in the brain. This is especially important if you are experiencing depression or anxiety.

A study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health showed that walking for twenty minutes can increase brain activation and speed up recovery from depression. Another key benefit is that it helps you sleep better. If you want to improve your sleep, try exercising in the morning or during the day. This will help keep you more energized during the day as well as improving your night’s sleep.

Strength training

Strength training is much more than just lifting weights. It can have a huge impact on your mental health and wellbeing. Studies have shown that strength training can reduce stress, improve mood, and even help with depression and anxiety. Regular strength training can also improve cognitive functioning, increase focus and concentration, and help to manage the symptoms of stress-related illnesses. Strength training helps with depression because it helps improve mood by releasing feel-good hormones like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.  Try adding 3 sessions in a week and see how your mood improves.

Make Exercise Part of Your Routine

Exercising regularly is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Not only does it help you stay in shape, but it also has many mental benefits. Making exercise part of your daily routine will not only improve your physical health, but it can also help you reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep quality, and increase your energy levels. Exercise can be done anywhere and anytime, making it easy to fit into any lifestyle. Find something that works for you.  A quick walk, 10 minutes of Yoga. Make it achievable. With the right motivation and dedication, you can make exercise part of your routine and reap the benefits that come with it.

If you would like help with putting together an exercise plan that works in with your routine then get in touch by booking a 15 min Free Phone Consult.  Or visit my Personal Training page for more info