Exercise improves mental health

Exercise is great for many reasons. Exercise improves circulation, muscle tone, the condition of internal organs, heart rate, joint mobility, stability and it minimizes weight. Exercise not only improves the physical appearance, health and functionality of the human body it nourishes the mind. Yes, exercise improves mental health.

What does exercise have to do with the mental health of an individual? I suggest that it has a lot to do with mental health. One of the many wonderful aspects of exercise is it requires focus. Not the type of focus needed when working out an equation, reading a paper or fixing an electrical connection but a physical focus. The human body needs to focus on activating muscles, the placement and rotations of joints, stabilizing and sustaining of ligaments, continuance of breathing and maintaining balance. In order for the body to truly accomplish challenging exercises it needs to focus on the physical. This can be a wonderful release as there is no room left in the brain to worry about work, the TO- DO list, being angry at someone. A session of exercise can be a release to the mental mind.

Often if you are overwhelmed with too much information in your mind engage in a challenging exercise session and enjoy the break from all of your worries. By challenging your body you are giving your mind a break and after experiencing a break your brain will have a greater capacity to engage, articulate and evaluate processes. So next time you consider missing your exercise session remember that not only your physical body will benefit from it but also your mind and who doesn't need to give there mind a break?