The physical benefits of exercise—improving physical
condition and fighting disease—have long been established, and physicians
always encourage staying physically active. Exercise is also considered vital
for maintaining mental fitness, and it can reduce stress. Studies show that it
is very effective at reducing fatigue, improving alertness and concentration
and at enhancing overall cognitive function. This can be especially helpful
when stress has depleted your energy or ability to concentrate.
When stress affects the brain, with its many nerve
connections, the rest of the body feels the impact as well. So it stands to
reason that if your body feels better, so does your mind. Exercise and other
physical activity produce endorphins—chemicals in the brain that act as natural
painkillers—and also improve the ability to sleep, which in turn reduces
stress. Meditation, acupuncture, massage therapy, even breathing deeply can
cause your body to produce endorphins. And conventional wisdom holds that a
workout of low to moderate intensity makes you feel energized and healthy.
Scientists have found that regular participation in aerobic
exercise has been shown to decrease overall levels of tension, elevate and
stabilize mood, improve sleep, and improve self-esteem. Even five minutes of
aerobic exercise can stimulate anti-anxiety effects.
John J. Ratey, MD,
author of Spark: The Revolutionary New
Science of Exercise and the Brain, suggests, “Try alternating between your usual routine and some workouts
that are mentally challenging, such as dancing or tennis, a few times a week.
Activities like these require coordination, which engages several areas of the
brain at once. It's the mental
equivalent of doing a push-up to work your entire upper body versus a bicep
curl that targets only one muscle.”
In a few weeks, your sweat will literally pay off with you
obtaining greater cognitive clarity, better memory, improved focus and less
stress – not to mention a leaner body!
To learn how Fitness for Health’s one-on-one, exercise
programs help strengthen your body and your mind, visit www.FitnessForHealth.org. 
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