InTouch with Southern Kentucky February 2020 | Page 36

YOUR HEALTH
Physical Activity & Mental Health
BY BEVERLY S. LOY
ADANTA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Exercise – a word that many
people do not like to hear let alone
do. But did you know that exercise
keeps our mind and bodies healthy.
You may ask “how does exercise
keep us ‘mind’ healthy?” Why both-
er with exercise?
Numerous times you will read
that we separate the mind from the
body but they are not separated –
they are together. The mind cannot
function properly unless our body
is functioning properly too and vice
versa.
To work properly, our bodies do
require regular exercise – and we
do feel better when we are active.
We have become very inactive in
36 • I n T ouch with S outhern K entucky 
our everyday routines. We drive
everywhere we go – less walking; we
watch television by binge watching
– long periods of time sitting on the
couch; and, sitting at a desk if you
have a desk job – very little moving.
We seem to become turned off
when people discuss exercise. We
have a tendency to think negatively.
We may say:
• I didn’t play any sports.
• I would feel/look silly
• People will make fun of me
• I don’t have the energy
• I don’t have anyone to exer-
cise with
• I don’t know where to start
Studies have shown that the less
you do physically the more likely we
are to have low mood/depression
and tension/worry.
If we keep active we are:
• More likely to feel good about
ourselves
• More likely to concentrate and
focus better
• More likely to sleep better
We may ask How much physical
activity should I be doing? It is
recommended by The Department
of Health that adults should do the
equivalent of 30 minutes five times a
week. That is only 2.5 hours of 120
hours. How many hours a do we
watch TV or spend on our phones?
Exercise can provide the following
benefits for our mental health:
• Reduces Stress – increases a
chemical that moderate the brains
responses to stress.
• Boost happy chemical – ex-
ercise releases endorphins which
create feelings of happiness.
F ebruary 2020