Exercises for Mental Health: Where to Begin
By Genevieve Cunningham
Staying mentally healthy should definitely be one of your top priorities. But how can this be done? Talk to a therapist? Take medication? Reduce everyday stress? While all of these might be helpful or necessary at one time or another, taking care of your physical stress can also be incredibly beneficial. If you’re looking to keep your mental health in check, take a look at these exercises that may boost mental health and get the body in shape all at the same time.
Running
Running tends to be a love or hate type of situation. Many people absolutely love it and the natural high that comes with it. Others despise the thought of going for a run. But for mental health, running can be incredibly beneficial. Running requires constant movement for a significant amount of time. This causes the body to experience physical stress, and as the physical stress rises, the mental stress diminishes. It’s also true that if you can ever run long enough to get the runner’s high, you’ll feel quite accomplished and incredibly relaxed once the run is complete.
Boxing
For some people, beating mental stress is all about getting out the anger. Boxing allows this group of people to literally punch stress out of their body. The quick bursts of energy used during boxing can literally explode some of that stress out of the body and into the punching bag. Many people who suffer from mental health issues find boxing to be quite healing, as they are able to get out the frustration in a healthy way, which leaves them more relaxed upon completion.
Yoga
While some love to punch out their problems, others like to take a slow and easy approach. This group may benefit from a yoga class. Yoga requires a lot of body strength, but even more mental strength. A yogi has to have patience, a calm spirit, and the ability to breathe deeply and exhale negative emotions. Over time, many people find this the best approach to staying mentally balanced and strong.
While there are many other ways to stay mentally healthy, these exercises are great additions to any mental health routine. You’ll be able to fight mental health problems and give the body a physical boost all at the same time. Pick one or all, give them a try, and watch your mental health and perspective on life improve for good.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Thornton, Colo.