One more person talking about exercise
We are bombarded daily with reminders of the benefits of exercise. From commercials, social media, radio, news programming, and any other form of media that you could possibly consider, we are reminded that physical exercise will cure everything. It reduces obesity, any weight related illness, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, risk for stroke and the list goes on. Children, teens and adults are all targeted by the exercise pushers. So why all the fuss?
Well as we all know- it is true. Exercise does make everything better. Unless you get injured during your Zumba class, most people, health professional or not, will agree, that exercise makes it all better. It is just that simple. We feel better after we go for a walk or a jog or a swim or go to a fitness class or ride a bike or jump rope or play basketball. We don't really feel better after watching TV, unless it was a really funny show. But even then we often feel guilty for not cleaning the kitchen, doing laundry, finishing homework or fixing that broken lamp we keep meaning to get to. We may feel better after reading a book or making something crafty or working on the car. But we ALWAYS feel better after exercising. Not only do we feel like we did something good, we feel accomplished. Reaching a goal is gratifying. Most forms of exercise include reaching a goal. The act of accomplishing that which we set out to do is therapeutic.
Exercise is good for our emotional well being. "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't kill their husbands" as Elle (Reese Witherspoon) reminded us in Legally Blond. It is true that exercise releases the chemical in our brain that makes us happy. It reduces depression and anxiety. It makes us feel as they we have done something good. Our bodies feel stronger. We feel better about our appearance by just knowing that we worked out.
So long story short- exercise is the prescription for better health, mental health included. So if you are having a case of the Mondays and things just seem blah- consider going for a walk, taking a jog or going to the gym. Even if you are not cured, chances are that you will probably feel better. That is good medicine!