Best Mental Health Boosting Exercises

You may have found managing your mental health harder over the last few years. Life pressures have increased. So, you’re busier with more to do and less time to do it in. Also, your financial needs may have escalating along with your cost of living. However, the best mental health boosting exercises can drive away the blues to restore clarity and balance to your life.

Research has proven on many occasions that regular exercise is one of the most effective mood-boosting strategies. When you get your body moving the action releases endorphins, which gives you a natural happiness high. To release your natural high and soothe your anxiety the best mental health boosting exercises are known to be yoga, Tai Chi and walking. Let’s look at why.

Best Mental Health Boosting Exercises: Yoga

Yoga is both spiritual and physical. It brings the mind, body and spirit together and there are several forms of yoga practice such as Bhakti Yoga. Yoga stretches and tones the body and lets you master the art of meditation to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, while also increasing concentration. Yoga is one of, if not THE, best ways to boost your mental health.

Best Mental Health Boosting Exercises: Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an ancient form of gentle exercise is regularly practised by millions of people in China, where it originated. Although, technically it is a form of martial art, Tai Chi can be practised solo. However, most people prefer to practise it in groups. 

Popular with older people due to its ability to improve flexibility and balance, Tai Chi has also been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. Consequently, it is a great exercise for you to use to improve your fitness, while also boosting your mental health. Tai Chi is suitable for beginners, intermediates, and advanced practitioners. So, anyone can give it go; what are you waiting for? 

Best Mental Health Building Exercises: Walking

Many people don’t consider walking to be exercise. And yet, if you commit to walking daily it can tone and shape muscle, realign your posture and help you to shred fat. Plus, it does wonders for your mental health too. A brisk walk in a natural setting as opposed to on a treadmill alleviates symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Also, it lowers the heart rate and helps you to lose weight.

Walking in nature alleviates stress and is a natural antidepressant. It allows you to breath in fresh air and gain an appreciation of nature. When you walk you can clear your head without the infuence of others.

If you haven’t walked in some time, start with a quick walk around the block for 15 to 20 minutes. Gradually, build up to walking daily for a kilometre, and then progress on to longer and harder walks. Over time, you’ll discover that your fitness levels increase, along with your stamina. Who knows you may even decide to start taking on 10, 20, 30 or more kilometre walks.

Best Mental Health Building Exercises: Key Takeaways

Any of these exercises will help to lower your anxieties, reduce your stress levels and ultimately boost your mood. There are esay to learn and enjoyable to master. After months of practise you’ll start to notice progressive changes to your levels of stress and also to your fitness.

Just to recap, the best mental health building exercises are:

• Yoga: there are several forms of yoga you can learn. Pick to form that most appeals to you and focus on understanding the principles.
• Tai Chi: this ancient martial art is ideal for harmonising the mind and body.
• Walking: simple, yet effective, walking stimulates the senses and ellivates mental anguish as it gives you time to clear and refine your thoughts.

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