How Movement Makes Us More Resilient

As the holidays come near and people’s schedules seem to pick up, I notice fitness seems to get put at the bottom of the “To-Do” list. I promise you when I say, the times you are stressed and feel that you don’t have the time to work out are the times when it is most important to move your body. When it comes to fitness you could probably name numerous physical health benefits.What we often times forget is the long list of mental health benefits as well making us happier, less stressed and more resilient. Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D., author of The Joy of Movement explainshow much our muscl

es influence our psychological and brain health. She says,‘Science shows that when you move your body, your muscles release chemicals known as myokines into your bloodstream that improve your mood, reduce anxiety and depression, and make your brain more resilient to stress. I call them 'hope molecules.' These “hope molecules” can be released with ANY kind of movement such as bundling up and going for a walk outside, dancing around your house (woo!) or yoga-ing. Even though the exercise doesn’t have to be hard, there is a correlation between a bigger release of these “hope molecules” and amplified intensity. So, having a higher heart rate during the movement will create a bigger release of these chemicals. Shape Magazine also goes into explaining the long-term effects of regular exercise on the brain. ‘Studies show that after six weeks of activity, we see functional and structural changes in the brain’s reward system that are similar to what you see from the most advanced treatments of depression. So, there you have it, when you’re stressed out don’t skip your workout (ha it rhymes).