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There are many reasons why people should exercise - maintaining a healthy heart and keeping the joints subtle are just two of these reasons. Experts believe that by participating in regular activity, we release chemicals into our brain which make us feel on top of the world. They also believe that regular exercise can boost self-esteem, aid in concentration levels; increase the amount of quality sleep a person can get and just generally make a person look and feel better.
There is a vast amount of scientific evidence which shows that participation in physical activity has substantial mental health benefits. In addition to this, people who are aware of such benefits would probably be encouraged to increase their commitment to regular exercise. It has been established that the mental health benefits from exercise are a reduction of anxiety and depression, decreased reactivity psychological stress, and enhanced cognition.
Stress
New research has shown that many young teachers who begin their training with high motivation and noble ideas are exhausted or almost burnt out within a few years on the job. The latest findings from a continuing study by researchers at Monash University revealed that more that one in four new teachers suffered from ‘emotional exhaustion” shortly after starting their careers. Teacher stress and burnouts have emerged over the past 20 years as a serious concern for teachers, students and parents. It has been proven that teachers who participate in physical activity and have increased parent involvement in their classrooms will have lower stress and consequently are significantly less likely to experience burnouts and job dissatisfaction.
In a study conducted in America, it was estimated that approximately 7.4% of the population have anxiety-related disorders to the extent that either medical or psychological treatment is needed. Most of these people experience episodic, and sometimes extended stress-related symptoms at some stage during their lives. It has been proven that regular physical activity is a great reliever of stress and moderate to severe anxiety. State anxiety can be defined as the actual experience of anxiety that is characterized by feelings of apprehension or threat and accompanied by increased physiological arousal, particularly as mediated by the autonomous nervous system. On the other hand, trait anxiety is a dispositional factor relating to the probability that a given person is likely to perceive situations as threatening. Typically, most forms of anxiety are measured by self-report scales such as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory or in terms of physiological variables such as muscle tension, blood pressure or brain electrical activity. Clearly both state and trait anxiety represent negative psychological variables that one would want to avoid, and participation in physical activity seems to effectively alleviate the symptoms associated with anxiety. Small to moderate reductions in anxiety with physical activity have been consistently reported in the exercise physiology literature over the last 30 years. These effects are typically observed for aerobic forms of exercise across a wide range of intensities, although lower-intensity and higher volume resistance training appears to be very effective as well. There are a number of possible explanations for the anxiety-reducing effects of exercise. One possibility is the rhythmic nature of many forms of physical activity and many exercise routines. People find that walking, running or cycling at a steady pace for some period of time helps to promote relaxation. Stair stepping and aerobic dance routines are often performed to a cadence or in time to music. In essence, many workout routines are rhythmic. The calming effect of rhythmic exercise may be biological: It is possible that cerebral cortical arousal is inhibited, due to a volley of afferent rhythmic impulses from skeletal muscles to an inhibitory or relaxation site in the brain stem of the central nervous system, and that this causes a “quieting” of the cognitive activity associated with anxiety or stress states.
There is a vast amount of scientific evidence which shows that participation in physical activity has substantial mental health benefits. In addition to this, people who are aware of such benefits would probably be encouraged to increase their commitment to regular exercise. It has been established that the mental health benefits from exercise are a reduction of anxiety and depression, decreased reactivity psychological stress, and enhanced cognition.
Stress
New research has shown that many young teachers who begin their training with high motivation and noble ideas are exhausted or almost burnt out within a few years on the job. The latest findings from a continuing study by researchers at Monash University revealed that more that one in four new teachers suffered from ‘emotional exhaustion” shortly after starting their careers. Teacher stress and burnouts have emerged over the past 20 years as a serious concern for teachers, students and parents. It has been proven that teachers who participate in physical activity and have increased parent involvement in their classrooms will have lower stress and consequently are significantly less likely to experience burnouts and job dissatisfaction.
In a study conducted in America, it was estimated that approximately 7.4% of the population have anxiety-related disorders to the extent that either medical or psychological treatment is needed. Most of these people experience episodic, and sometimes extended stress-related symptoms at some stage during their lives. It has been proven that regular physical activity is a great reliever of stress and moderate to severe anxiety. State anxiety can be defined as the actual experience of anxiety that is characterized by feelings of apprehension or threat and accompanied by increased physiological arousal, particularly as mediated by the autonomous nervous system. On the other hand, trait anxiety is a dispositional factor relating to the probability that a given person is likely to perceive situations as threatening. Typically, most forms of anxiety are measured by self-report scales such as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory or in terms of physiological variables such as muscle tension, blood pressure or brain electrical activity. Clearly both state and trait anxiety represent negative psychological variables that one would want to avoid, and participation in physical activity seems to effectively alleviate the symptoms associated with anxiety. Small to moderate reductions in anxiety with physical activity have been consistently reported in the exercise physiology literature over the last 30 years. These effects are typically observed for aerobic forms of exercise across a wide range of intensities, although lower-intensity and higher volume resistance training appears to be very effective as well. There are a number of possible explanations for the anxiety-reducing effects of exercise. One possibility is the rhythmic nature of many forms of physical activity and many exercise routines. People find that walking, running or cycling at a steady pace for some period of time helps to promote relaxation. Stair stepping and aerobic dance routines are often performed to a cadence or in time to music. In essence, many workout routines are rhythmic. The calming effect of rhythmic exercise may be biological: It is possible that cerebral cortical arousal is inhibited, due to a volley of afferent rhythmic impulses from skeletal muscles to an inhibitory or relaxation site in the brain stem of the central nervous system, and that this causes a “quieting” of the cognitive activity associated with anxiety or stress states.
Depression
There is a medical problem that affects an estimated 40 percent of people in the developed world. It can cause symptoms that vary widely- from exhaustion to killer heart disease, and everything in between. The majority of physicians haven’t a clue; they don’t know how to diagnose it, they don’t know about the 64 diseases it causes, and they don’t know a safe and effective way to reverse it. All but the most progressive doctors leave their patients in limbo.
But hey, now for the good news… You can diagnose yourself, and it won’t cost you a penny. Even better, if you have been suffering for a short time, or even for a lifetime, with one or more of the 64 documented illnesses caused by this problem, one tiny, safe drug can make the difference between feeling full of life and just dragging around. It is very rare for both of the words “safe” and “drug” to appear in the same sentence (and for good reason); most drugs are dangerous and many are killers. You might be thinking ‘okay, so what is your point then’? My point is that in this case I can make an exception because the drug which I am speaking of comes from a natural source, and it is a life saver as EVERYONE needs it. The drug that I am talking about is called ‘Physical Activity’.
Much like anxiety, there is a significant amount of evidence which clearly reveals that the smallest levels of physical activity can reduce the symptoms of depression in both woman and men. Even though a lot of the time depression is treated either by a physician using medicine or by a psychologist, exercise is often a more desirable treatment as it is not damaging to the body (like some medicines) and it is not going to send you broke. In addition, physical activity appears to be as effective as medication in men and women experiencing clinical depression. Because many people have episodic bouts of depression over stressful events in their life, it seems that exercise offers an appropriate and effective means of coping and feeling better.
The Cognitive Benefits
In addition to the emotional benefits, exercise has the ability to improve the way the brain functions. People who are physically fit usually have increased energy throughout the day which allows them to be more productive. It can work wonders for clearing an active mind, improving blood circulation, decreasing blood pressure, and it also has a significant effect on memory and brain specific mechanisms.
There is a medical problem that affects an estimated 40 percent of people in the developed world. It can cause symptoms that vary widely- from exhaustion to killer heart disease, and everything in between. The majority of physicians haven’t a clue; they don’t know how to diagnose it, they don’t know about the 64 diseases it causes, and they don’t know a safe and effective way to reverse it. All but the most progressive doctors leave their patients in limbo.
But hey, now for the good news… You can diagnose yourself, and it won’t cost you a penny. Even better, if you have been suffering for a short time, or even for a lifetime, with one or more of the 64 documented illnesses caused by this problem, one tiny, safe drug can make the difference between feeling full of life and just dragging around. It is very rare for both of the words “safe” and “drug” to appear in the same sentence (and for good reason); most drugs are dangerous and many are killers. You might be thinking ‘okay, so what is your point then’? My point is that in this case I can make an exception because the drug which I am speaking of comes from a natural source, and it is a life saver as EVERYONE needs it. The drug that I am talking about is called ‘Physical Activity’.
Much like anxiety, there is a significant amount of evidence which clearly reveals that the smallest levels of physical activity can reduce the symptoms of depression in both woman and men. Even though a lot of the time depression is treated either by a physician using medicine or by a psychologist, exercise is often a more desirable treatment as it is not damaging to the body (like some medicines) and it is not going to send you broke. In addition, physical activity appears to be as effective as medication in men and women experiencing clinical depression. Because many people have episodic bouts of depression over stressful events in their life, it seems that exercise offers an appropriate and effective means of coping and feeling better.
The Cognitive Benefits
In addition to the emotional benefits, exercise has the ability to improve the way the brain functions. People who are physically fit usually have increased energy throughout the day which allows them to be more productive. It can work wonders for clearing an active mind, improving blood circulation, decreasing blood pressure, and it also has a significant effect on memory and brain specific mechanisms.