20/05/2020
Dear Body, Thank you for all you do ❤️
This week I was asked by on her Live Interview why I'm a PT as well as a Mindset Coach. The day after (unrelated) I was asked to write an online piece about Fitness for Anxiety. That's my answer, that's why.
You have a little drug store inside you. Imagine the pharmacy is a 20 minute jaunt away, a 20 minute circuit, brisk walk, run, cycle, swim...You pay in getting your heart rate up by 20%* & the dose is yours. And you can go back each day for more ❤️ .
Your prescription. Neurotransmitters, send msgs around your body: neurological information.
📜 (to name a few)
💉 Endorphins: works similarly to your high cal painkillers, without the addictive side effects. Your body's own product that helps relieve pain & stress. Yes ma'am, stress. .
💉 Serotonin: impacts your mind to your movements. Increased levels can help boost your mood. It's known as a natural mood stabiliser. .
💉 Dopamine: sending msgs between Body & Brain. Plays a prominent role in your emotional responses. Vital for emotional well-being.
Exercise isn't everything, mental health is complex & unique to the individual... But exercise is a useful tool to explore for the chemistry & the daily routine. The intensity of what gets your heart rate up varies for the individual. Singing (wailing in my case) & Dancing around your bedroom for 6 songs is perfectly fine if that's what you want to do. Find a movement you enjoy: Repeat, Rest, Progress.
📚 *British Journal of Medicine, 2020. According to the BJM just 20 minutes of exercise, increasing your heart rate by 20% can be as impactful as prescribed antidepressants. Due to the change in your brains chemistry when the increase occurs. No harm in imagining the pharmacy is half hour away though, or 45 minutes some days 🚶🏾♀️🚶🏼 6 songs, can quickly turn into a whole album 🎶🎸👩🏻🎤🧑🏾🎤
📚 Harvard Press, 2019
📚 Open Study, CBT, 2020
📚 Psychology Today, 2018