Unlocking the Emotional Potential of Exercise
Are you aware of the social and emotional benefits of exercise? Are you looking to improve your emotional well-being? Ironically, all of us at Pledge To Fitness® are surprised that we are not asked by people when visiting or booking their first few sessions, “I just want to feel better.” Regular exercise can help relieve anxiety and depressive disorders , improve mood, and increase confidence and self-esteem. It is well-documented that exercise like Pilates can reduce stress as well as smiling with your peers at the gym increases your sense of social connectedness. Most of us will not become fitness models, so we encourage you to consider physical fitness training to become stronger, more confident, and full of energy.
Navigating Life’s Uncertainties: Focusing on What We Can Control
We don’t control events such as pandemics, other people’s behavior, the economy, or international supply chain delays. We control decisions, moods, feelings, food choices, and the amount of exercise we do. This affects our brain chemistry and the master chef of which cocktail of hormones are produced in our heads, including our level of personal satisfaction and happiness with our lives.
Are you going through a stressful period in your life? When you are under stress, your brain produces stress hormones. A simple Google search can show that regular exercise can produce endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. They are often referred to as the happy brain chemicals. Their production is one of the benefits of regular exercise, in particular aerobic exercise can increase the production of endorphins.
- Endorphins are neurotransmitters responsible for relieving stress and pain.
- Serotonin is influential for learning, memory, and happiness and regulates body temperature, sleep, sexual behavior, and hunger. When your serotonin is in check, you don’t reach for as many French fries.
- Dopamine influences our mood.
- Oxytocin is known for its positive effects on social bonding and stress reduction.
Emotional Benefits of Exercise: Lessons from Inside Out
Do you remember the Pixar movie Inside Out? If not, here’s a quick summary from IMDB:
“After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions—Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness—struggle to navigate the challenges of a new city, house, and school. When Joy and Sadness are accidentally swept into the far reaches of Riley’s mind, the remaining emotions—Anger, Fear, and Disgust—are left to run the show.”
At Pledge To Fitness®, we’re excited for Pixar’s upcoming sequel. Many of our clients are busy, tired parents, and we often find creative inspiration from YouTube to help them manage their kids’ moods. One great resource is Brighten Up! Kids, with a 7-Minute Emotion-Regulating Activity using mindful breathing techniques to calm down grumpy, tired kids. It’s a simple yet effective hack for emotional well-being.
Just as we can guide our kids’ emotions, we have control over our own lifestyle modifications. Those who finish their fitness workouts with our trainers often experience the rush of euphoria—an exercise high—and a sense of accomplishment. Making exercise a priority is a sensible lifestyle choice that helps improve and regulate brain chemistry, leading to healthier, happier decisions.
Embrace the Benefits of Exercise
Here is a quote from our founder, Andres Loperena: “Exercise makes you overall feel better by improving blood flow, decreasing muscle tension, and endorphins reduce your perception of pain and trigger positive emotions. Everyone who has experienced a runner’s high has experienced this but even jumping for a few minutes can improve your thinking and produce endorphins.”
Here is a list of exercise’s ten emotional, social, and mental health benefits:
- Improves sleep
- Improve self-regulation of emotions and moods
- Improves focus
- Improves our ability to manage stress
- Improves self-esteem
- Increases the release of “happy chemicals.”
- Improves your positive self-image and self-talk, all the while increasing the perception of your self-worth
- Increases and maintains Cognitive Function
- Reduces feelings of anxiety
- Boosts our energy levels
Tailored Fitness for Lasting Wellness @ Pledge To Fitness®
It’s important to remember that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to exercise. That’s why our personal trainers focus on your unique health and wellness goals, as well as your fitness progress. Our motto, “Love who you see in the mirror,” reflects our commitment to helping you find physical activities you enjoy and can easily incorporate into your daily routine—making it more likely that you’ll stick to your exercise plan long term. We design programs that help you reclaim your energy, passion, and motivation, not only in your body but also in your mind and spirit. Most importantly, we help you discover your own reasons to pursue happiness and stay fit for life.
Whether you’re looking to become more active or explore new activities, schedule your complimentary nutrition coaching session at Pledge To Fitness® to start achieving your health and wellness goals—like feeling great in your favorite jeans!
Our personal trainers meet you at your current fitness level and build you up from there! They will challenge and push you further than you would go on your own or with friends and family. By committing to this journey, you’ll stay accountable, maintain motivation, and reach your fitness goals. Let us create a program designed to challenge you, keep you having fun, and help you reach your goals. We’re here to guide you, push you through your workouts, and keep you moving! Isn’t it time to invest in yourself?
