Be the Positive Change Series
Care For Your Body
Movement
Movement is important for many health and vitality reasons. Exercise not only improves your physical condition, it decreases symptoms of depression and increases mental cognition. It also increases your level of energy and endurance. Yeah, moving makes you want to move more…weird right?
Did you know that exercise is more effective at fighting depression and improving your mood than any pill or potion on the market? In study after study exercise wins. Physical activity triggers the release of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). This protein helps repair damaged brain cells and stimulates the growth of new neurons. Exercise can also increase the availability of essential hormones like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Movement is also responsible for balancing the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, which allows your body to recover more quickly from stress by lowering cortisol levels.
Moving your body allows new energy to flow, by displacing old stagnant energy. Taking that movement outside gives the practice an extra boost. Exercising in nature increases endorphins and your exposure to negative ions (in this case negative is good). Negative ions are formed when a force, like a waterfall, is great enough to break apart an air molecule leaving behind free ions. When you breathe in negative ions, they are transferred to the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream they trigger a biochemical reaction that increases serotonin. Isn’t nature awesome? It just gives ions away for free.
Playing sports is a great way to stay active. But, I get it, a game of volleyball with a side of sand in every crevasse is not for everyone. For those who are less athletically inclined, you can stay active through daily tasks. Take the stairs at work, plant and maintain a garden or go for ‘walk and talks’ with a friend. Just Find any excuse to get active. You can also develop a workout routine in the comfort of your home with a few items that can be moved and stored like free weights, yoga mats and fitness balls. Even a deep house cleaning can be a solid workout. Add a couple of 5 pound ankle or wrist weights to increase the intensity. The best part, the side effects of fitness cleaning really sparkle.
A fitness routine doesn’t have to look like a conventional workout. The more creative your movement, the more likely you will continue the routine.
Resources:
PubMed, Babyak, 2000, Exercise treatment for major depression: maintenance of therapeutic benefit at 10 months https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11020092/
PubMed, Sleiman, 2016, Exercise promotes the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) through the action of the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4915811/
PubMed, Meeusen, 1995, Exercise and brain neurotransmission https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8571000/
