| There are many people today who are overstressed and on the lookout for ways to rid themselves of some of their daily stresses. There are many ways you can get some relief from your stress. Exercise for stress relief is probably one of the best since not only can you relieve your stress levels you can also improve other aspects of your health and fitness. We all know that too much stress can cause myriad health issues. Things like heart disease and diabetes are just the tip of the iceberg. We also know that exercise can help prevent many of these same diseases. So just imagine how much healthier you can be if you exercise and lose weight and stress at the same time! It's a two for one. Exercise for stress relief can come in many forms. It is all about getting your body moving and the endorphins flowing. For the most part, it is really just a matter of finding something that you enjoy doing. There really is not a right or wrong answer when you are trying to decide what type of exercise to do. Most of us have heard of the so called "runners high". This occurs when the body releases endorphins, the body's "feel good" hormone, during exercise. But, you don't have to be a runner to get this level of stress relief. You can do virtually any type of exercise you want as long as you don't hurt yourself in the process. And that brings me to another point; if you have been sedentary for a while, have some health issues or are overweight you need to talk to your doctor before you start an exercise program. While it is true that exercise can help you improve your health, you may have to make modifications when you are just starting out or if you have other health issues. If you do not modify the exercises, you may make your situation worse, not better, by injuring yourself when you start exercising. Another thing to keep in mind when you are trying to figure out what type of exercise you should do are your own preferences. Recently I have been hearing a lot about a workout called Zumba. My sister swears by it and has lost several pounds and she loves it. I was skeptical but I tried a class and I have to admit I'm hooked now, too. Not only do you get a great workout it really is fun. "Fun" is not usually the word people associate with working out. Other people love to do yoga. This form of exercise can help you stay limber and flexible but it will also help you relieve stress because it is relaxing, and has a flowing nature. You will also learn proper breathing techniques. And sometimes just hitting something can allow you to blow off steam. If that sounds like something you would like you may want to consider a boxing, kickboxing or martial arts class. As you can see by this short article, there is no shortage of exercise options for you. If you want to go to the gym and hop on a treadmill and lift some weights then that is what you should do. There are so many other great options to exercise for stress relief. The important thing is to find the one that you enjoy enough to stick with it. |
