We all know how exercise is the key to living a healthy and balanced life. But did you know that exercise is also critical for our emotional well-being as well?
Have you ever noticed when you’re feeling a little stressed, anxious or overwhelmed you start to pace or maybe even rock back and forth? Or maybe when you’re bored you’re right leg starts to bounce up and down or you start tapping your fingers on the table? Well that is your body trying to work those emotions out through moving. Such unconscious though purposeful activities are expressions of our body’s inner wisdom to create balance or homeostasis within it.
Emotions like everything else are simply energy. Emotions come and go throughout our busy days, passing through us like water through a hose. However, there are many times throughout our day when it may not be in our best interest to express our emotions. Say, telling the boss how you truly feel about the extra hours you are now having to work, or expressing what you’re really thinking about the driver that just cut you off when there are little ones in the car. Or maybe you were taught not to express your emotions. Maybe a parent told you not to be such a baby and tough it up, or that it’s not ladylike to get angry.
Unless we do something else to let those unexpressed emotions out during the day, our bodies and not our bosses end up feeling the effects. That is why we hear phrases like “he is a pain in the neck” and “you look like you’re carrying the weight of the world around on your shoulders” so often.
Those unexpressed emotions can get stored in our bodies as muscle tension and cause an increase in stress hormone production. Stress hormones create a weakened immune system increasing your vulnerability to numerous disorders, infections and diseases including colds, flu, heart disease, ulcers, neck and back aches, insomnia and cancer. The good news is that the same regular exercise routine that helps us loss and maintains a healthy weight can also help us better manage our emotions and fight dis-ease.
We all know that thirty to sixty minutes of regular exercise at least three times a week including strength training are the basis of a healthy lifestyle. But this month as the March winds blow in and spring is almost here, we want to share some alternative ways to exercise and movement to help manage your emotions and live your Ultimate Life.
WALK
• Take a change of shoes and take a brisk walk before you leave the office, especially with a coworker. This is a great way to decompress after a stressful day. Since often times we end up taking our work frustrations on our loved ones, we can now arrive home rejuvenated.
• If you have errands at the mall, change your shoes and power walk before you do your shopping. So instead of being worn out by the time you get home, you’ll be revived and refreshed.
• Call a neighbor and walk around the block. This is a great way to do a neighborhood watch or keep an eye on the kids.
PLAY
• Run around the backyard and play with the kids. The excuse of being too tired isn’t an excuse anymore, because the act of playing and moving will give you the extra energy.
• When picking up the kids from school or daycare take a change of shoes and stop by a playground for 30 minutes. This will give you and they time to decompress from the day giving you the ability to make dinner quietly and giving them the ability to focus on their homework. Also think of the memories of bonding and togetherness you’ll create.
• When running the kids to their soccer and football games stretch and warm up as a family. This gives you an ability to unwind from the day and helps the kids prevent injuries.
• Join an organized team. Playing volleyball, softball, basketball, or soccer can give you the opportunity for building new friendships as well as the exercise. Also committing to a team gives you accountability to make sure you’re taking good care of yourself.
• Put on some music and dance around the house, do some jumping jacks or shake up and down. Any type of movement can take the focus off your mind and release any built up energy for better focus and mood.
Exercise not only increases your overall health and sense of well-being, but also improves your relationships by giving you the emotional fortitude and coping skills to handle life’s daily challenges. It is like a moving meditation giving you the ability to concentrate on your body’s movements allowing you to forget the troubles of the day, resulting in increased energy and optimism that help you create your Ultimate Life. UHL
