JUMP FOR JOY
COULD EXERCISE BE THE KEY TO HAPPINESS ? ALL THE FACTS ARE THERE TO SUGGEST THAT IT IS AND LET ’ S FACE IT , WE COULD ALL DO WITH A BIT OF EXTRA HAPPINESS RIGHT NOW . ASHLEIGH BRITTEN FINDS OUT MORE ...
Though our body may sometimes be reluctant to agree , everyone is quite aware that exercise is good for them . Exercising undoubtedly helps with weight loss , increases muscle mass and in turn helps to keep you active and youthful , particularly good if age isn ’ t on your side . But , what many people don ’ t realise is that exercise not only contributes to a healthier lifestyle , but a happier one too ! That ’ s right , getting in regular exercise and keeping active will leave you feeling less stressed , more energised and much more content with life .
When you exercise , happy chemicals are released in the brain . Dopamine , probably the most commonly known chemical is a type of neurotransmitter ( messenger ) that plays a role in pleasure and motivation – all the things you need for exercise . Endorphins , serotonin and adrenaline to name just a few are all associated with feeling happy , confident and capable and exercise increases all of these .
Believe it or not , exercise can also leave you feeling more energised . We all have days where we just feel too exhausted to even contemplate going to the gym , but in fact our bodies respond well to exercise , all you have to do is stick to it ! Whilst you ’ ll feel more energised for your daily activities , when it comes to bedtime you ’ ll be sleeping like a log . Exercise is proven to significantly improve sleep quality and a good night ’ s sleep means a happier you .
So , we can ’ t label exercise as an instant stress killer – heading to the gym for 3 hours to sweat away your issues might not be the exact answer , but it has been proven that regular exercise will help to ease long term stress levels and reduce signs of depression and anxiety . James Blumenthal PhD , a clinical psychologist at Duke University explains that ; ‘ There ’ s good epidemiological data to suggest that active people are less depressed than inactive people ’. Exercise is a form of therapy , a mood booster and a simple cure for anxieties – do it on a regular basis and you ’ ll start to feel happier , confident and in turn more resilient to stress .
Local expert Evelyn Duro , assistant fitness manager at Champneys , Eastwell Manor , has a reputation for being a bit of a gym bunny . Evelyn has been a religious gym-goer for most of her life and has always enjoyed keeping fit – spin classes aren ’ t for the faint hearted . But , last year has been somewhat different , what with lockdown and the closure of gyms , her outlook on exercise has somewhat changed ; ‘ 2020 was the year when I really realised how much happiness I could achieve by taking it to a lower impact , doing pilates and yoga , and continuing with long walks , rather than forcing my mind and body to go through another stress by hitting the gym at 6am in the morning .’ An ethos that she has extended to her band of lockdown live class attendees . Offering a variety of online classes (@ evie _ ness _ fit _ ness ) from total body blasts and high intensity training to core work and low impact pilates and barre , her motivational messages have a clear underlying tone , when it comes to choosing your daily exercise … do what makes you happy ! Evelyn has , and it seems she isn ’ t the only one . Data suggests one of the positives to come out of a very strange year is a more health-conscious , active society , with almost half ( 42 %) of British adults exercising more than they were prior to the introduction of ‘ social distancing ’. Could this be the positive Covid-19 legacy ? With an astonishing 52 % of Brits planning to keep up their fitness regimes , it definitely looks that way .
Online exercise classes have rocketed , gym equipment has become like gold dust and there has been a surge in weird and wonderful fitness trends , OnBuy Fitness ’ research shows 32,000 searches over a month for naked yoga , apparently an ‘ ancient tradition ’. Don ’ t fancy that ? ‘ Doga ’ has become exceedingly popular too , so practicing downward dog with the pooch might just be the way forward .
But that doesn ’ t mean that even the most committed won ’ t struggle to get motivated , especially as we emerge from our tri-household festive indulgences . Evelyn explains that exercise is all about progression : ‘ No one is born a fitness freak ’, the key to it is ‘ appreciating your own abilities ’ and being ‘ consistent ’ give it time and enjoy it .
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