Exercise is Good for Your Mental Health!

Did you know that exercise is also good for your mental health? Intuitively, this makes sense, as we truly can’t separate the physical and mental, but it’s nice to know that there is research to support this as well.

Studies show that exercise increases our sense of overall well-being, is helpful for stress reduction, depression, anxiety, ADHD and trauma/PTSD.

How do you sense your overall well-being? It can be interesting to notice not only how your body feels after exercise, but how your mind, thoughts, worries, anxieties and mood feel as well. I love that when you exercise, you are supporting your health and wellness in numerous ways.

How much exercise is needed to get the benefits for your mental health? Studies show that 30 minutes of exercise three to five times a week can improve anxiety and depression symptoms. But even five to ten minutes a day may make a difference. I’m a big fan on adding in small amounts of movement and exercise into your days, especially when you don’t feel like you have time for a “workout.” A quick walk, rolling out on the foam roller, or doing 10 minutes of Pilates is still helpful!