Science says yes, and here's how!
1. HOW THE PRACTICE OF YOGA CAN PROTECT THE BRAIN.
You've probably heard more than once that doctors recommend yoga to reduce a wide range of mental stresses. While it's certainly not a magic cure, it can help. It is low-risk and wonderfully relaxing, and the obvious benefits are usually evident after just one or two sessions.
Yoga involves deep breathing, core strengthening and flexibility. Basically, it forces you to calm the mind and slow down, which is helpful for anxiety, stress and depression. When you focus on mindful movement and conscious breathing, it's easier to let go of negative emotions.
Yoga's versatility adds to its appeal. There are gentle and challenging practices, with many exercises of varying difficulty in between. But their common features, such as balancing and stretching postures, meditation sequences and controlled breathing exercises, are beneficial for anxiety and depression.
HERE ARE THREE STUDIES THAT AGREE:
This study found that people who participated in yoga classes experienced a significant reduction in neurotic symptoms, depression, anxiety and anger, leading to improved positive thinking. Furthermore, the study concludes by recommending yoga as a method to help treat depressive disorders.
2. HOW RUNNING TRAINING PROTECTS THE BRAIN
Doctors often recommend running to people who enjoy a challenge. And this advice is well grounded. Running has many benefits. Although the expected benefits of running are mostly purely physical, some of the physical effects carry over to mental health as well. In fact, some aspects of running have significant mental health benefits.
This study found that running as little as five minutes a day can help you live longer. The reduction in mental stress associated with general well-being can reduce the feelings of hopelessness experienced by people suffering from depression.
"THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SLEEP AND EXERCISE:
Sleep is key to mood and stress management. The less healthy your sleep habits, the more likely you are to suffer detrimental symptoms of anxiety and depression. This study suggests that running and similar forms of exercise can improve memory, reduce stress levels and even protect against depression and mood disorders."
"MINDFUL RUNNING: THE ULTIMATE PATH TO MINDFULNESS MEDITATION."
Running as a form of exercise can release positive energy. Moreover, this surge occurs both after and during exercise. But beyond that, positive mindfulness has another benefit: running is inherently meditative. Running is essentially a repetitive movement of the limbs and whole body. These movements can provide a meditative experience for the brain, which can help balance emotions and improve symptoms of anxiety and depression.
3. HOW GENERAL EXERCISE PROTECTS THE BRAIN
Enough about specific exercises. Let's talk about the general concept of exercise. You can see how well it fights anxiety, depression and their symptoms. If it gets your heart pumping and gets you excited, you'll get these results.
HE SCIENTIFICALLY RECOGNIZED BENEFITS OF EXERCISE OF ALL KINDS:
"CORTISOL RESPONSE TO EXERCISE IN YOUNG ADULTS."
Stress hormones, such as cortisol, can be released in large amounts when we are in a state of chronic anxiety. This study found that exercise can help reduce levels of these neurotransmitters in the blood, while increasing levels of positive hormones such as endorphins, which provide a sense of well-being and enhance positive thinking. These factors make you more resistant to anxiety and depression.
4. HOW EXERCISE SUPPORTS THE BRAIN'S PROTECTIVE PROCESSES
The benefits of exercise are not limited to those that directly change the way you cope with symptoms of anxiety and depression. It is not only good for psychological protection. And it turns out that some of its benefits even indirectly help protect the brain.
Here are a few examples:
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Exercise requires a certain level of concentration. With more intense forms of exercise, you have to push and force yourself to get better.
