London, Europe Brief News – Exercise can be a great way to lift your mood and improve your ability to deal with stress.
When you exercise, your body often feels more relaxed and calm, but there are mental benefits, too.
Find out why exercise is beneficial, and which types of exercises are best to help balance your emotions.
How Exercise Improves Mood
When you engage in high-intensity exercise, your body and brain produce hormones and neurotransmitters that have a positive impact on your mood, memory, energy levels, and sense of well-being.1 Some of these are known as endorphins, the body’s feel-good chemicals. They can result in the “runner’s high” that joggers talk about.
Exercise and Emotions
While exercise is not, on its own, a treatment for clinical depression, studies show that even a single bout of exercise results in positive changes in brain chemicals and can improve your mood. A 2017 review on the effects of exercise published in the journal Brain Plasticity, found that after exercise, people reported a better mood with decreases in tension, depression, and anger.1
Types of Exercises to Improve Mood
When it comes to exercise, it’s crucial that you pick something you enjoy. Cardiovascular exercise is great, but if you hate swimming or running, you won’t stick with it. And when an activity is more enjoyable, chances are better for long-term adherence.
Cardiovascular and Aerobic Exercises
Cardiovascular and aerobic exercises are great for creating the intensity required for the release of mood-raising endorphins in your body. Aerobic exercises are those that get your heart rate up, like jogging, swimming, cycling, brisk walking, or using an elliptical trainer. You can also get your heart rate up by doing activities like gardening and dancing—both have been shown to reduce depression and anxiety.
Yoga
Yoga is a system of holistic health and spiritual growth which focuses on meditation, breathing exercises, and physical postures. Unless you’re doing an active flow or vinyasa yoga class, yoga doesn’t provide much of an aerobic workout. It can, however, teach you how to relax, release tension, stretch tight muscles, and even strengthen weak ones. Doing yoga regularly can help to ease anxiety and improve feelings of well-being.
