Five Ways Your Mental Health Benefits From Movement

Five Ways Your Mental Health Benefits from Movement:

Engaging in exercise can reduce anxiety and depression, improve mood, boost self-esteem, minimize stress, and enhance cognitive functioning.

Increases brain size. Exercise stimulates the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, promoting new connections in the brain and enhancing the health of existing neurons. The brain regions associated with memory, reasoning, and learning benefit from high-intensity aerobic exercise

Prevents memory loss. Oxygen and blood circulation throughout the body, including in the brain when we move our bodies. This also elevates mood and cognitive functioning. Studies show working out twice a week prevents cognitive decline that occurs with age. These include memory loss and brain functionality. 

Improves sleep. Sleep patterns, quality and quantity of sleep improve with regular, mindful movement and movement practices. Engaging in fitness during the day improves deep sleep during the night. In turn, more time in the restorative sleep stage enhances immune system functionality.

Reduces anxiety and depression. Physical exercise produces an anti-anxiety effect in the brain. by activating and recouping GABA, a neurotransmitter helps us regulate symptoms of stressing ourselves out. Regular exercise both decreases and prevents depression helping the body and brain relax.

Boosts mood. During a workout, dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine are increased, causing improved mood and decreased stress. In addition, when the heart rate is boosted, the body releases endorphins, for more energy. By exercising, these naturally produced mood-enhancing substances, reduce the stress hormone cortisol.