Exercise Your Mind - Unleash the benfits of fitness on your mental health!

Healthy body = healthy mind, and healthy mind = healthy body. We’ve heard these words before, but what do they really mean and how do we achieve this synergy? Today is #BellLetsTalk day, and whether you support the campaign itself or not, you undoubtedly support the concept of normalizing mental health as part of our overall wellness, and normalizing the discussion of such.

So let’s look at the benefits of fitness on our mental health in greater detail, and perhaps this will be yet another strong reason for you to commit to your wellness journey and live your best life.

We know there are numerous scientific studies and anecdotal evidence that support the link between regular exercise and mental/emotional wellness. The biggest evidence lies in what exercise does physiologically to our hormones. First of all, the act of intentionally moving our bodies, getting our heart rates up, challenging our muscles, our flexibility and endurance releases endorphins, which are considered our “feel good hormones”. These endorphins are neurotransmitter chemicals in our bodies that carry signals across our nervous system to act as natural painkillers, boost our mood, and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Exercise also impacts cortisol, aka the “stress hormone”. Exercising regularly has been shown to lower our overall cortisol levels which helps promote a feeling of calmness and control, settles our mind and helps us prepare for better sleep quality. When we exercise regularly, our hormones become more regulated including our circadian clock, which reduces the amount of time it takes for our bodies to fall asleep and also reduces wake up times during the night.

Neuroplasticity, (which is a fancy word for your brain’s ability to adapt and grow) is improved when we engage in regular exercise. Neuroplasticity leads to improved cognitive functioning and reduced cognitive impairment, both of which make us feel better in terms of mental clarity and positive mood! Don’t you feel better when you’re alert, aware and remember things? You can harness that feeling by engaging in any exercise. Whatever your preference for movement is, the benefits remain the same - hiit workouts, yoga, running, walking, strength training, team sports, mountain climbing….the list goes on and on. Try a variety or stick with what you love and over time that neuroplasticity strengthens, as do the cognitive and mental benefits associated with it.

There are sooooo many social and emotional benefits that come with exercise and these can be found if you work out alone, with a partner or in a group. Team sports obviously provide a sense of bonding, commitment, working towards a common goal and camaraderie. Working out alone can help you feel confident, proud of your commitment to your goals and independent. Regardless, when we have a fitness routine, it connects us to others as a common ground for discussion, sharing tips, advice and feedback and even making new friends. Accomplishing goals in our exercise routine, whether big or small, feeds our sense of accomplishment leading to higher confidence and self-respect.

And let’s talk about that body!! The physical benefits that come with regular exercise increases our confidence in our body image and strength. Think of a time after a particularly challenging workout where you felt like you could do anything, lift anything and you were SO DARN PROUD of your achievements! That feeling is part of the positive feed-back loop that occurs when we commit to a regular exercise regime! It doesn’t hurt to give your mirror a flex every now and then to remind yourself of how awesome you look and feel!

There is literally no downside to committing to a regular exercise routine if you are looking to improve not only your physical well-being but your mental outlook as well. So let’s get to it! Ditch the excuses, put on the sneakers, embrace the sweat and MOVE THAT BODY! Send me a message if you need help getting started. My fitness programs are adaptable to all fitness levels. My goal is to get you moving so you can increase that confidence and enjoy all the benefits that this life has to offer. Movement is medicine and it’s waiting for you to grab a dose!

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