How to Exercise Your Way to Better Moods

Everyone knows exercise improves your physical health, helping you shed extra pounds while building muscle and reducing your risks of chronic health issues like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. But what a lot of people don't know is that regular exercise can also improve your mood. 

At Health Meets Wellness, our team understands the value of exercise and strength training in helping our patients achieve a more balanced life and improved physical and emotional wellness. In this post, we will discuss the important but often overlooked link between exercise, mental health, and mood.

How exercise improves your mood

Exercise can improve your mood and your emotional well-being in multiple ways. Here’s how:

Endorphin release

Most people have heard of the so-called “runner’s high” — the mood elevation many athletes feel after a long or strenuous run. That “high” happens when physical exercise releases “feel-good” chemicals called endorphins that help elevate mood naturally. 

Best of all, you don’t need to be a runner to benefit from endorphins. Any brisk workout can trigger ramped-up production of these mood-enhancing chemicals.

Reduced stress

Endorphins aren’t the only chemicals released through exercise. Regular physical activity also boosts levels of mood-stabilizing chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals help relieve stress and modulate moods, making you feel more content and in control of your life.

Better sleep

Sleep plays an integral role in maintaining your mood and reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Exercise helps improve sleep by optimizing the release of melatonin — a chemical that helps you fall and stay asleep. Plus, regular exercise helps you manage your weight, reducing the risk of obstructive sleep apnea that can interfere with restful sleep.

Improved self-esteem and self-confidence

Finally, regular exercise can greatly improve self-esteem and body image by helping you trim away extra weight and tone flabby muscles. As you set and achieve exercise goals, you feel a sense of accomplishment that can spill over into other areas of your life and help you feel more productive and confident.

Exercising for emotional benefits

One of the best things about exercising for mood improvement is that any exercise can support better emotional wellness. Our team focuses on designing a plan that best suits your needs, lifestyle, and preferences.

Some exercises, like yoga and tai chi, are touted for their stress-relief benefits. Tai chi is ideal for anyone with sore joints or other conditions that prevent more strenuous activities. Yoga routines can also be adapted to provide you with the flexibility and mood-enhancing benefits while still avoiding pain.

Walking, running, aerobics, and cardio routines also offer benefits for stress reduction, primarily through their release of natural endorphins. Choosing activities that suit your personal preferences helps you stick to your routine so you can reap all of the benefits.

In fact, nearly any type of exercise can be a potential mood-booster when performed regularly and correctly. Best of all, our team offers exercises virtually via telehealth, so you can enjoy your routine whenever and wherever it’s most convenient for you. 

Find an exercise routine that works for you

Regular exercise doesn’t have to be boring. Our team focuses on developing exercise programs that target your specific goals, providing the support you need to stay focused and motivated.

To learn more about our exercise programs and how they can help improve your mood and your overall wellness, call 934-203-8941 or request an appointment online with the team at Health Meets Wellness in Midtown East, New York City, today.