Why do you exercise?
Common answers tend to fall under aesthetics, performance, and maximizing longevity.
All are great reasons to prioritize fitness, but what about how movement benefits your mood, mindset, and overall mental health?
What if you started…
Exercising for your brain, not just your body.
To not just look better, but also to feel better.
Let’s touch on the benefits our brains receive from exercise. Author and podcaster, Alexis Fernandez, often talks about the neuroscience of exercise - how changing your physical state initiates change in chemical flows and cycles within the brain.
Specific changes include
increases in the levels of "feel good" neurotransmitters (such as serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins)
decreases in the levels of our stress hormone (cortisol)
Serotonin:
The Mood Stabilizer
often associated with happiness and contentment with what we currently have or are experiencing
Dopamine:
The Motivational Chemical Drives the brain's reward system; motivates us to pursue things outside of our immediate reach
Endorphins:
The Natural Painkiller
Can cause a euphoric feeling - relieves pain and boosts overall well-being
Cortisol:
The Stress Hormone When you exercise, you’re supplying the brain with more oxygen, resulting in decreased baseline levels of cortisol. Lower levels of cortisol allow the brain regions to interact better and intercept stressful thoughts and negative self-talk faster.