There is a direct connection between exercise and improved mental health.  The things that appear most affected are people’s level of anxiety, depression and one’s mood.

Most of us think of team sports, running, biking and lifting weights when we think of exercise.  The fact is that exercise comes in many forms.  In addition to those listed above there are things like walking, yoga, Pilates, gardening, canoeing, hiking and many other activities that are considered exercise and can help your mental health.

During exercise there are chemicals that are released in our brain that help us feel good; neurotransmitters and endorphins. There is a feeling you get when finished working out that helps you see the world a bit differently then before you started; for some it gives them more energy.

Exercise can also take our minds off of things that are weighing on us.  For many people doing exercise with someone else can help motivate us to actually get out and do it.  Exercising with others can also create an opportunity to meet others, learn more about those we already know enjoy our time with them and take our minds off the fact that we are exercising.  Exercise provides a way to cope with situations in a positive way as opposed to old destructive ways that some of us have been using for many years.

Exercise can help with one’s self-confidence in that if one sets goals for doing so much exercise in a given time or achieve some end result and this is accomplished you feel better about yourself.  It is important to set reasonable goals.  Sometimes this means talking to someone else about what you are planning to do so it makes reasonable sense; that it is an attainable goal.

If you have not done exercise in sometime and/or you have health issues it is important to talk to your health provider to make sure how much you can do for you to get the positive results that exercise has to offer.  As with most things in life moderation is important as it allows you to participate in healthy ways in the other activities in your lives.