It is so important that we are kind to our minds, especially at times like these. That's why we're here today to talk to you about the mental health benefits of exercise.

We all know that exercise is good for our bodies. But did you know it can also boost your mood, improve your sleep and help deal with depression and anxiety?

 

Exercise isn't just about losing body fat and building muscle. Of course, exercise can help you get beach body ready, but there's so much more to it than that. 

 

The benefits of exercise on mind and body

 

There are many reasons why people exercise regularly and one of the reasons is because it gives them an enormous sense of well-being. It also gives them more energy throughout the day, improves the quality of their sleep, and boosts their overall mood.

 

You don't have to be a fitness fanatic to reap these benefits. Even a modest amount of exercise per week can make a significant difference. 

 

How can exercise impact your mental health?

 

1. 
   

   Help fight depression

   
   

 

There are several reasons exercise can help to fight depression. When we exercise, our bodies release endorphins, at MHR Fitness, we like to call these happy hormones. These happy hormones lift our spirits and make us feel good. Exercising also promotes feelings of calm and can be a distraction to break out of any cycle of negative thoughts. 

 

2. 
   

   Alleviate anxiety

   
   

 

You might have heard the saying before that action alleviates anxiety and I'm a big believer in this. Exercise is a natural and effective anti-anxiety treatment. It's known to relieve tension and boost your physical and mental energy. 

 

3. 
   

   Relieve stress

   
   

 

Last week we spoke about how stress can impact fat loss. When you're stressed, you might notice that your heart rate increases, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises and your breathing becomes heavier. The discomfort of these physical symptoms can lead to more stress creating a vicious cycle between our bodies and minds. Exercise is an effective way to break this cycle. With such a close link between our bodies and minds, when your body feels better, your mind will too. 

 

Some other mental health benefits of exercise I haven't mentioned are having a sharper mind, higher self-esteem, and becoming more resilient, which will benefit you in other areas of life.

 

We hope you found this blog post beneficial and that it has helped you create a bigger why to continue exercising or even to start exercising.