I know I feel good when I exercise. I also know physical exercise is good for our mental health and our brains. I’ve read this has to do with the release of endorphins; and levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine related to exercise. Mostly I just know I feel good when I exercise. However, I don’t exercise when I don’t feel good. Right now it is spring and I have been successful at making exercise a priority in my life. But I wonder- can I sustain this cycle of physical fitness positively impacting my mental health which in turns reinforces my motivation to exercise? I think the answer is my establishing exercise as a coping mechanism especially when I have times I feel anxious or am not feeling well and not wanting to exercise. Unfortunately, this coping option will have to battle the strong urges to sleep, watch bad TV, or just veg when I am not feeling mentally up to par.
4 comments:
posted by Wendy!
Exercise is the most important way I deal with my own mental health issues and angst. I have found that boxing and kickboxing are the best form of therapy for me. There is nothing better than to spend an hour beating a bag thinking of all the things you wish you'd said to someone, what you would change if you could, or just venting random frustrations. I look forward to the days when I can slug and sweat it out. Maybe I'll be the next Laila Ali.
We should totally post some footage of Liz kickboxing on our blog! And Alison doing the trapeze!
My thought exactly Lizzie! But really, in reading the posts I couldn't help but agree. For me, it's not really the act of 'exercising' that makes me feel good, it's that I'm doing something I love and I just naturally love moving. I'm not a 'runner' per se; but just moving my body in ways I normally don't sitting in front of a computer. The flying trapeze has become my addiction, and my way to vent, because it's just you and the world - and the net underneath, of course. There's something about having to focus on everything your body is doing to make sure it stays safe; surprise surprise, other things just don't seem to matter much in that moment.
I highly recommend trapeze to anyone looking for something to just be amazed by! www.trapezeschool.com
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