Stress produces chemicals in the body that make us feel on edge and tense. The heart beats faster, the muscles tighten, and blood pressure can go up. The hormones can go out of balance, and we may partake in emotional eating or drinking. So, how can exercise help?
Exercise, especially mindful exercise like yoga, stretching, or getting out in nature releases feel-good hormones and can rebalance the body and its systems. We can even turn household chores into a workout by turning the music up and I gong and dancing as we clean. If you find competitive sports stressful, try other options that may be in a group, but where all participants are winners!
Making exercise a part of the daily routine keeps stress levels lower than if we didn't participate in physical movement. Even when I was 50 pounds overweight, I had low stress levels due to my marathon training out in nature, hiking, and teaching spinning classes with my favorite music.
Even a little exercise is better than none. Start today!
Blessings,
KJ Landis