Move it! 6 reasons why moving your body is good for your mind
Exercise. We all know it’s good for our physical health – but did you know exercise can also have a profound impact on your mental and emotional well-being?
It’s no surprise that moving your body has been proven to help you enhance your heart health, maintain a healthy weight, and strengthen your muscles and bones. But movement can also be great for your mind. The mental benefits of exercise might just be the motivation you need to get started.
Even simple activities like getting the groceries, taking the dog for a walk and putting the bins out can help to nourish your soul, rejuvenate your well-being, and leave you glowing with vitality.
It’s time to stop thinking of movement as a chore, and start thinking of it as an act of self-love. It could be exactly what you need to reconnect with your inner self and take on each day with an extra spring in your step.
Here are six reasons why moving your body is also good for your mind – and a few tips to help you get started.
Movement reduces stress and anxiety and boosts your mood
Our body functions with a multitude of chemicals and hormones running through it, and many of these affect our emotional and mental health.
Cortisol, our biggest stress hormone, is one of these chemicals. Research shows that exercise not only has an immediate effect on reducing cortisol levels, but the results can last for up to a week following a workout. Exercising will help balance your cortisol levels, which will help reduce your overall stress, lift your mental fatigue and make it easier to manage life’s highs and lows.
Endorphins, the chemical responsible for natural pain relief, are also released through any form of physical activity. Once you’re moving, your body sends a signal to your brain to release endorphins, which help you to feel happy, calm and connected to yourself.
The natural, blissed-out pleasure we experience while exercising helps us to connect more with those around us and strengthens our relationships.
You can boost your mood even more by exercising outdoors. Sunshine naturally increases your serotonin levels, a known mood stabiliser. This chemical helps regulate your emotions and improve memory. It’ll help you feel at peace, even while you’re sweating it out.
Even a brisk walk around the block can help fight sad feelings and lift your spirits to a higher place.
Better yet, embrace the idea of mindful movement, or exercising with awareness. Set your intentions and make a conscious effort to shift your mind from feeling busy and distracted to feeling calm, capable and strong. After a period of mindful movement, you will find your whole mood has shifted for the better.
Movement increases self-worth
Exercise has also been shown to give us feelings of increased self-worth, personal achievement and a more positive body image. But it’s not about being ‘skinny’ – it’s about feeling confident.
When you exercise, you challenge yourself, and that feeling of achievement is chemically caused by a boost of dopamine. Dopamine is our reward chemical, and it is activated when we complete a task, tick off a list, take care of ourselves, and smash a goal; all of which can be achieved by exercising.
So next time you get home from a long walk, finish up a dance class or wrap up any other form of exercise, make sure to enjoy the sweet feeling of satisfaction that washes over you – you earned it, and it’s good for you.
Movement enhances cognitive function
Feeling forgetful? It seems like all of us have a lot on our plates these days, and keeping track of everything can be a challenge. But here’s the good news: Regular exercise can sharpen your memory, improve your concentration, and lift your overall cognitive function.
Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, delivering the oxygen and nutrients our brain cells need to stay healthy and keep functioning optimally. So when you get your body moving, you’re not just sweating it out – you’re giving your brain the refreshing cocktail it needs.
There are links between exercise and the prevention of age-related cognitive decline, and studies have shown physical activity even helps to stimulate the growth of new brain cells – and who couldn’t do with more of those?
Movement improves your sleep
For some, a good night’s sleep comes easy. For others, not so much. But one simple way to improve and reset your sleep cycle is with – you guessed it – regular exercise.
Regular movement regulates your circadian rhythm, and can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer – a dream scenario for those who have grown accustomed to restless nights.
Exercise can also help improve the quality of your sleep by allowing your body to more easily transition into deeper sleep stages, so you’ll sleep more soundly than ever.
As a general rule, any exercise is good exercise, but the buzz from moving your body too close to bedtime can keep you awake – so for the most satisfying sleep, aim to get your movement in earlier in the day.
Movement helps keep you feeling vital and full of life
After our thirties, we lose bone density and increase our risk of fractures. But just 30 minutes of physical activity each day can help strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis, the leading cause of disability in elderly people.
What does this have to do with your mind? Well, it’s no secret that injury and sickness can have a negative impact on your mental state. By committing to regular exercise, you can decrease the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer, and keep your being glowing with vitality and strength.
While a good workout will leave you feeling exhausted, the knock-on effects of regular physical activity will actually recharge your soul. Exercise boosts your cardiovascular health, giving you more energy and endurance to face each day.
Picture yourself maintaining strength and focus through the day, flowing with the energy you need to tick off every task, excel at your job, be an attentive partner or parent, and still enjoy the company of friends and loved ones.
Harness the power and energy boost that regular exercise gives your soul.
Movement can be fun
Moving your body doesn’t have to be about protein shakes and beating your personal best. Exercise can and should be a social activity that connects you to your community – or to yourself.
Brunch with your best friend can start with a yoga session. Family time can become a wonderful walk in beautiful natural surroundings. Date night can be the time to fit in a beginner’s dance lesson. Exercise can be an enjoyable way to spend time with friends, family, or just by yourself.
So with that in mind, look for ways to add mindful movement to your current lifestyle without reinventing the wheel. Be open to trying something new, improving a skill set or just having a laugh – your body and your mind will thank you.
How to get moving for your mind
As the saying goes, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
The best and most effective way to make mindful movement part of your regular routine is to find something you love to do anyway – whether it’s gardening, taking the dog for a walk, or more structured exercise like pilates or strength training – and make a habit of it. Some simple tips:
- While 10 minutes is a good start, try to spend at least 20 minutes moving – or ideally, closer to 30 to 90 minutes.
- If you are short on time, that’s okay – but focus on more intense movement to maximise your efforts.
- Try to get your heart rate up, no matter the activity.
- Seek out mindful movement and focus on building a positive relationship with exercise.
- See movement as an act of self-love, and something you do to nourish your soul.
- Concentrate on progress rather than results. You want to move more frequently and make small improvements over time – it really is about the journey, not the destination.
If you need a kick-start, why not join our retreat? Our vision is to create a space where everyone feels welcome, inspired and motivated.
We offer a range of daily activities, including low, medium or high-intensity movement activities; daily stretch and mobility classes; a cooking demonstration; mindfulness sessions and more.
You’ll leave feeling confident and equipped with the tools you need to focus on your well-being in the longer term – and what could be more important than that?
