Movement as Medicine
The physical benefits of exercise are well-known, but there are numerous mental health benefits too! Is exercise a part of your mental health wellness routine? If not, here are some compelling reasons to move your body.
How does exercise improve mental health?
Increases endorphins
Promotes relaxation
Improves overall mood
Improves sleep quality
Increases self-confidence
Helps the body cope with stress, depression, and anxiety
“Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person’s physical, emotional, and mental states.”
- Carol Welch
Tips for Getting Started
Go slow
Set achievable goals (going on a walk, doing 10 minutes of stretching)
Find something that brings you joy!
Exercise with a friend
Add exercise into your daily routine
Mindful Morning Yoga for Mental Health / Yoga with Adriene
Free Exercise Apps
7 Minute Work-Out
Working out doesn’t have to mean spending hours in the gym. This app offers a variety of different exercises that can be done in 7 minutes making getting started easier!
This app offers free unlimited workout classes from celebrity trainers. You can find yoga classes, weight training, HITT workouts, cardio, and more.
Yoga for Beginners
If getting into yoga feel intimidating due to the lingo and poses, this app is for you! Yoga for Beginners breaks down each pose and allows you to track your yoga process.
While starting an exercise routine can seem overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be. Start small! Take a short walk in the morning, do light stretching, put on some music and start dancing. Whatever gets your body moving! Exercise doesn’t have to mean going to a gym for hours or going on a 5 mile run. Finding what type of movement works for you AND brings you joy certainly benefits mental health.
