Fight Depression With This These 5 Workouts

Fight Depression With This These 5 Workouts
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Depression comes in all forms and shapes and its cure could come from medical treatment but you don’t always have to go down that road. Did you know that exercising not only boosts your heart rate but has also been proved to boost the endorphin levels? And, in case you weren’t aware, it is endorphins that promote happiness. Whilst fighting with depression, the human brain is low on different chemicals but doctors claim that exercising stimulates the release Studies have shown that active people are less likely to suffer from depression as they are more enthusiastic and excited about the things surrounding them. Exercising will reduce stress levels, will help you sleep better and you will end up feeling better overall, both physically and mentally.

Here are 5 types of workouts that will improve not only your physique but your state of mind, too.

Experience the Runner’s High

Cardio has been proven to be the number one type of exercise when fighting depression. 20 or 30 minutes of jogging per day will make the difference and you don’t even need to worry about the pace you are running at as studies have shown there is no correlation between the intensity of the workout and the emotional benefit associated with it.

Many athletes have reported that running gives them a certain feeling of euphoria, which is now known as the runner’s high. Running will stimulate the release of endorphins, our own body’s natural morphine, which will result in decreased pain levels and an overall sense of well-being. Therefore, the euphoria feeling will not fail to make its appearance.

Build Muscle

Building muscle requires attention and a lot of focusing. But it all pays off as results show up and all the dedication and efforts put into it translate into more defined muscles. Once this happens, people start to regain their confidence and feel better about themselves.

A recent study that had observed 45 stroke survivors has shown that after completing a 10 week strength training programme, the symptoms of depression were significantly reduced. And that’s not just a coincidence. Therefore, if you want to boost your spirits, start boosting your muscles!

Yoga

Yoga improves the overall flexibility of one’s body and improves your strength and balance. As it involves meditation and a great level of focus, yoga manages to take your mind away from the negative things in your life and fill you up with a sense of well-being.

65 women who suffered with anxiety and depression were the subject of a recent study. 34 of the 65 took yoga classes twice a week for two months, whereas the rest of 31 did not attend a single class. The results showed that at the end of the two months period, the 34 women who practiced yoga were showing significantly less signs of anxiety and depression.

Tai Chi

Very similar to yoga, Tai Chi involves slow, gentle movements that require a great deal of focus and attention. Originating from China, Tai Chi is known as an Eastern tradition that sets you free from depression.

14 Chinese patients who suffered from depression were the subject of a recent study observing the effects of Tai Chi against depression. The subjects attended Tai Chi classes once a week for three months and at the end of the trial, all 14 subjects showed massive improvements in the anxiety and depression symptoms.

Bounce

Buy yourself a trampoline and start bouncing. This will help oxygenate your brain and stimulate the release of endorphins which are responsible for your happiness. If you don’t have a trampoline and you don’t want to spend any money right now, that’s fine. Just bend your knees and bounce quickly without jumping for several minutes. The effects will amaze you.


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Anna is an avid blogger with an educational background in medicine and mental health. She is a generalist with many other interests including nutrition, women's health, astronomy and photography. In her free time from work and writing, Anna enjoys nature walks, reading, and listening to jazz and classical music.

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