Spiral Up! Tip #7: Exercise

Now before you give this header a big yawn and move on to the next thing, let me tell you some of the cool effects that exercise has on your brain and that you may not be so aware of.

There is a ton of research on the effects of exercise—any form of it—on our brains and ultimately, our wellbeing. 

You may also have heard the slogan: “Sitting is the new smoking” and I know that many of you have been scared enough of the effects of constant sitting, especially during the pandemic, to get off your chairs and onto the yoga/pilates mat, or in front of some YouTube video that brought a plethora of exercise ideas to your home.

And do you remember how it felt when you did engage in whatever exercise you chose? What did you experience afterward? What did it do to your energy level? Your mood?

I don’t think I have to tell you about the importance of the connection between body and mind. We have heard about it ad nauseum. Yet, we often underestimate its effects and neglect to act on it.

Perhaps having a little more awareness of the benefits can get you off the couch more often and get that blood and those hormones flowing.

Alex Korb, PhD, describes the many benefits of exercise from a neurological point of view in his book The Upward Spiral. 

Here is a summary of his chapter on Exercise:

·       Exercise not only strengthens our bodily muscles; it also strengthens our brains by increasing nerve growth factors (such as BDNF—brain-derived neurotropic factors). These are like steroids for your brain, increasing physical and mental resilience.

·       Exercise can boost serotonin activity, increasing motivation and willpower, as serotonin activates BDNFs, thus creating an upward spiral.

·       Exercise increases norepinephrines, the neurotransmitter responsible for concentration and deep thinking.

·       Exercise positively affects the release of dopamine, the brain’s version of methamphetamines, a natural “upper”, controlling the aspects of pleasure, decision-making and focus.

The above is just a short list of the benefits of moving, moving, moving. If in addition, calming your stress hormones, better sleep, better physical tonality, increased mood, you are after, exercise is your ticket.

There is so much more to exercise that can be described in a short article. But I want you to become aware, as I have over the years, of how physical exercise can affect our overall wellbeing, levels of energy and performance.

The good news is that you don’t have to go out and train for the next marathon. Getting into a routine of going for a 20-min walk every day (the brisker, the better) or doing a couple of push-ups in the morning to get your day going or simply getting out your vacuum cleaner to make your place extra nice (double benefit ??), all help to stimulate the release of the above “happiness hormones”. If you are not already an avid believer, this is an invitation to explore the magic of exercise and to Spiral Up! one step at a time.