When looking for ways to manage stress in your life, a good place to begin is with a healthy regime of physical exercise. Exercise not only helps maintain a healthy body, but also aids in reducing stress and improving mental health. There are several reasons why you should practice different stress relieving exercise.
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6 Reasons to Practice Stress Relieving Exercises
- A regular exercise routine improves physical well-being which lowers stress levels.
- Physical exercise relieves tension and encourages restful sleep and less mental distress.
- Endorphins and other beneficial hormones are released during exercise which promotes a feeling of overall comfort.
- Exercise can improve self-esteem, provide a sense of accomplishment and improve quality of life in other ways.
- Exercise can be a social experience helpful in lowering stress levels, or it can be practised in solitude for a meditative experience that also reduces stress.
9 Stress Relieving Exercises You Should Try
One of the best things about using stress relieving exercises is that there is a perfect exercise for everyone. No matter what your physical condition, you can find a routine that will improve your physical health as well as your mental health.
1. Yoga
Yoga is one of the most popular forms of stress relieving exercises. The meditative rhythm and deep breathing techniques build physical strength while helping clear the mind.
2. Pilates
Like yoga, Pilates combines mental concentration with a physical workout to bring about a harmony of mind and body that is helpful in relieving stress. Yoga and Pilates have many similarities and you should consider your physical goals when choosing between the two or deciding to use them in combination for stress relief.
3. Tai Chi
Tai chi is an exercise that was derived from Chinese martial arts and focuses on being fully in touch with the present. It is sometimes called “meditation in motion” and is an excellent way to leave the worries of the day behind.
4. Martial Arts
There are a number of disciplines that work well as stress reliving exercises. From karate to tae kwon do, the highly focused routines involved are perfect for reducing stress and improving your mood.
5. Tennis
Not only is tennis a great way to reduce stress, but it is also a great cardio workout which helps prevent high blood pressure and heart disease. Since it requires a partner to play, it also helps keep you connected to others which are considered an important part of relieving stress.
6. Running and Walking
Running and walking are two of the most popular forms of exercise as they require very little in the way of equipment and can be fit into any schedule. If there is a park, parking lot or shopping mall nearby, then you are never too far away from your gym. You can avoid the weather on a rainy day and enjoy the sun on a nice day without significantly changing your routine.
7. Dancing
While many people do not think of dancing when considering stress relieving exercises, it does in fact give you a physical workout while improving agility and coordination. The social aspect of dancing helps in improving mental and emotional well-being while learning new steps exercises the brain as well.
8. Swimming
Swimming is a great way to get an all over body workout while also submerging your mind in a relaxing activity. The concentration required encourages escaping the stress of the day.
9. Water Aerobics
If you have issues that prohibit some other forms of exercise, water aerobics may be just the thing you need. Usually practised with a group with similar physical needs, this stress relieving activity has both social and meditative aspects that will calm the nerves.
Conclusion
Have you tried some stress relieving exercises that have helped you to overcome stress – please share your tips in the comments below.
Be so kind and share this article about different stress relieving exercises – your friends will thank you for that.
