Non-Physical Benefits of Exercise
Exercise goes well beyond the physical benefits. Exercise is truly empowering and a wonderful outlet. I like to think of it as “my therapy”. I don’t want you to work out because you only feel you need to change your body, but I encourage you to exercise because your body is amazing and deserves to be taken care of. Not only that but you deserve to be proud of yourself and all that your body does for you. This is a large reason why every day I remind you that it is a beautiful day to move our bodies!
If you care for your body in any way, you begin to love your body. And when you love your body, you want to care for it. That is why self-care is so important. It is a wonderful cycle of nurturing self-love and gaining confidence that we all deserve. Some of the best sessions I’ve had with my clients is when they say they feel empowered now that they are exercising and look forward to their workouts.. and that they are loving what their mind is becoming. It is truly so rewarding and why I am so passionate about helping and supporting women in leading active, healthy lifestyles.
Moving your body in a way that is appropriate for you comes with so many more benefits than just physical. And just in case I haven’t convinced you of that, I’m going to break down the non physical benefits of exercise for you!
1. Post-workout “high” or happiness. Yes, this is a real thing thanks to the little hormones you have. Adrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin play a key role in this. Some studies suggest that it may take only about 20-30 minutes of continuous exercise to experience a boost in all three, and when these are boosted, your overall mood is better and you are happier. It may be tough to get started, but give yourself 30 minutes to a better mood!
2. Less stress. Getting your workout in can increase concentrations of norepinephrine, a brain chemical that is believed to moderate the brain’s response to stress! Have you ever had a horrible day, felt super stressed out, then worked out and felt more as ease? That’s part of it as well! We know that excessive stress can negatively impact our life, so if we dedicate time to ourselves and our workouts we will reap the positive benefits.
3. Better sleep. There's substantial scientific evidence that exercise helps improve sleep. Making exercise part of your regular routine can contribute to healthier, more restful sleep and may help sleep disorders, which in turn will improve your overall performance, brain power and feeling.
4. More energy. Exercise can improve cardiovascular health and circulation throughout the body, which in turn can help to boost your energy levels. Our bodies are created to move, so even if you go for a walk, a bike ride, do strength routine, it will boost your stamina and help you fight fatigue.
5. Boost self-confidence. As you begin to work out regularly, you may begin to achieve your goals which will boost your self confidence… even before reaching any physical goals, just setting aside time to commit to yourself and moving your body will boost your confidence.
So start small and slowly build healthy lifestyle habits that work for you, because you are worth it.
Xoxo, MK
