Exercise is the magic bullet of wellness

What are the Benefits to Physical Exercise?

I’m sure you have heard about all of its benefits before. It prevents heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. It helps you sleep better, improves your balance, makes your muscles and bones stronger, and helps you think better. And if that does not convince you, for some people exercise works just as well as antidepressants for combatting depression. Generally, exercise improves the way your body functions. 

Exercise is a non-negotiable in my life because it has such a profound effect on my well-being. It is the one thing that has the most positive effects on all aspects of my life and that means it influences all eight realms of well-being.

When you consider all the physical benefits of exercise, Isn’t it obvious? We are animals and we are meant to move. It does not matter whether you walk, run, bike, swim, lift weights, play sports, or practice yoga. What matters is that you are physically active. And exercise is an important component of good physical fitness. Exercise changes virtually every tissue in the body because it works so many different pathways, be they metabolic, hormonal, neurological, or mechanical. It is no wonder that something that works on so many different levels would also affect our overall wellness on so many different levels. Without physical activity, it is hard to even consider deeper levels of well-being.

What is most interesting is the effect of exercise on our emotional well-being. Studies show that physically active people are happier and more satisfied with their lives. During exercise, the increase in cerebral blood flow creates more capillaries, building more conduits for blood to flow in the brain. It works on anxiety, panic disorder, and stress in general, which has a lot to do with depression. Exercise supports nerve cell growth in the hippocampus, improving nerve cell connections, which helps relieve depression. It generates the release of neurotransmitters—endorphins (i.e., runner’s high), norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, and endocannabinoids, which are all responsible for making us feel happier, less anxious, less stressed, and more confident.

Exercise can have meditative benefits as well. When we are moving, we can get out of the stories in our heads and tune into our bodies and environment. All these changes in the brain influence our intellectual well-being. Many studies have suggested that the parts of the brain that control thinking and memory are more voluminous in people who exercise. Exercise can help boost thinking and memory indirectly by improving one’s mood and reducing stress, depression, and anxiety.

Connect with those who share values of health and wellness

Exercise also has a profound effect on our social well-being. From someone who has had a running partner for years and taught yoga and group fitness for most of my life, I understand the bonding that happens when we move together. There is a shared endorphin rush that primes us to connect. Exercising with others exudes a tribal quality; moving and breathing together gives us a sense of belonging and trust. There is also the added benefit of connecting with those who have shared values of health and wellness, which can lead to lifelong friendships.

Exercise also influences our environmental well-being. As humans, we thrive in nature. Natural light, fresh air, green trees, and snow-covered mountains, all have a significant positive influence on us. If you have been stuck inside surrounded by screaming kids or in front of a computer in a dark office, a walk, run, hike, bike ride, or swim outdoors can have a profound effect on your mood.

Physical movement, be it in a natural setting or not, has a spiritual quality to it. When you move more, you develop a stronger sense of purpose and inner strength. By engaging physically, be it running, practicing yoga, or whatever exercise you do, the activity becomes a mirror for self-reflection. The way we react and relate while exercising is just a metaphor for how we are in life. You are taking time to breathe, move, connect with yourself, push your comfort zone, and in that, you develop a deeper sense of meaning, purpose, and confidence that you can meet life as it is.

That leaves us with occupational and financial well-being. Does exercise contribute to doing work that you find motivating and meaningful? Does it contribute to feeling good at the end of the day? Does it somehow make you good at budgeting or investing? Well, regular exercise gives your brain more energy to work and boosts cognitive performance, which can improve productivity and financial wellness. The ability to govern your finances also depends on a disciplined, motivated, and healthy physical routine. With such a practice, one is more likely to develop a “prevention mindset,” where you think about how decisions right now will affect you in the future. That means you are less likely to make impulse buys or eat out every night.

At the end of the day, exercise is essential for every aspect of our well-being. It would be great if we could bottle it, but that’s the rub. How do we find a way to get moving when we lack the time and motivation, or do not have a workout buddy, or do not like classes or clubs, or are self-conscious? The most important thing about exercise and all well-being is to be KIND to yourself. You do not have to join CrossFit or wear Lululemon to get moving. Exercise does not have to be super intense or long for it to be effective, but it does need to be consistent. Find an activity you enjoy and a way to do it and you will see that a 30-minute walk or a yoga practice three times a week has a trickle-down effect on all aspects of your wellness.