Exercise as an
antidote to depression and anxiety is not a new concept. In
the 18th century Scotland, doctors in mental hospitals prescribed heavy farm chores as
"the best medicine" for their patients and documented marked
improvements in mood and behavior. Now scientists are studying the
link between exercise and mood changes at close range
and coming up with some fascinating results.One expert in the field says "exercise is
clearly associated with mental-health benefits." And moderate exercisers
show lowered blood-pressure levels and a resultant
positive mood. The key is moderate exercise, performed a minimum
of 30 minutes, three or four times a week. Brisk walking, swimming, lifting weights, and bicycling—all achieve good results.People who exercise regularly, even at something
as simple as walking or bicycling, are more flexible. They
experience less stress on the muscles and joints when they do
bend down the wrong way. Conditioned muscles recover faster,
too.The big problem we all face these
days is living a stressful life. All families seem to be too busy to sit down
together and share the joys and pleasures of life. The little
things that once mattered are no longer important and now there is a
race for more money, more time and more material
possessions.By using simple relaxation
techniques, exercising and making changes in our lifestyles, we can manage
stress and take control of your lives! Once you have become
aware of stress, it's time to relax! There are many
techniques for relaxing (and no one method is better than another), but
the most basic is deep breathing.
One
of the body's automatic reactions to stress is rapid, shallow breathing. Breathing slowly and deeply is one of the ways you can "turn off" your stress reaction and "turn on" your relaxation response.Still
another relaxation technique that can help you reduce stress is "clearing your mind." Since your stress response is a physical and emotional interaction, giving yourself a mental "break" can help relax your body as well. When you clear your mind, you try to concentrate on one pleasant thought, work, or image and let the rest of your worries slip away.A short and quiet walk can do wonders and just a
walk around the block will clear your head and often
give you a new spurt of energy.
sedentary,
high-stress society. The cliche warning us to "use it or
lose it" isn't far off the mark. Our bodies pay the price for long hours
slumped at our desks or nestled in a soft chair watching television. And if you think some of our
aches and pains are just another consequence of aging, you're wrong—more often, it's
a result of inactivity and weaker muscles.Doctors
now say that walking is one of the best exercises. It helps the total circulation of blood throughout the body, and thus has a direct effect on your overall feeling of health. There are things such a aerobics, jogging, swimming and many other exercises which will benefit a person both physically and mentally. Researchers agree that exercise helps to ease anxiety and
lift spirits.
Steps
to Help you Avoid Losing the Thrill What's
your excuse for not making it to the gym on a consistent basis? Locker room too smelly? Eye
candy not sweet enough? Music volume making your ears bleed?
Feeling intimidated by buff bodies crowding the
free-weight area?
Most
people start off strong with an exercise program, and then within a few weeks they've got an excuse for not being there. The majority of people will stop participating in a new workout program within the first 90 days which is why health clubs that are packed in January can seem virtually empty by March.
