One of my favorite lines in a movie is from Shawshank Redemption when Andy Dufresne said, “Get busy living or get busy dying.” When it comes to our mental health, movement such as low to moderate exercise can be a great ally in our mental wellbeing.
Moving our body unleashes the body’s endorphins, lowers cortisol and increases overall blood flow to the body and especially the brain. This can help with naturally improving focus, energy and our emotional resilience.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t actually need a gym membership or a perfect yoga flow to accomplish all these things. While these are great, even a brisk walk around the block, gentle stretching, dancing in your kitchen or light chores can all count as mindful and intentional movement. All these “get the juices flowing”.
The best things about movement are that it is usually free, accessible and adaptable to almost any ability level. It just so happens that it also helps reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improves sleep and creates a rhythm to your day when you put it in your schedule.
I also want to acknowledge that there can be barriers to anything. For those struggling with pain, fatigue, obesity or low motivation, even short bouts of movement can feel daunting. The key here is to start small and give yourself permission to build slowly and to go at your own pace.
I have tried a lot of different exercises over the years, and for me, non-impact exercises have always been my favorite. These days, I really love my rebounder, a small, indoor trampoline. I simply do 3-minute intervals on it 2 times a day. Three minutes might sound short, but, let me tell you, it’s a workout. The rest of my exercise is on our small farm.
If you are just starting out, try setting a timer for 10 minutes of walking while listening to your favorite music or podcast. You could also try searching for “gentle yoga” or “beginners tai chi” on YouTube. There are a lot of free options available these days.
The bottom line is that you don’t have to do it perfectly or intensely to get the mental health benefits of movement—you just have to start. Your brain and body will thank you for every step you take.
source https://www.lifesworkclinic.com/why-10-minutes-of-daily-movement-makes-a-difference/
No comments:
Post a Comment