It’s no secret how personal fitness offers many physical benefits, but regular exercise also has a huge impact on your mental health!
We’ve all had tough days where everything seems to pile up and seem a bit too much.
Whether it’s work stress, sleep troubles or just feeling a bit off for no particular reason, it’s important to remember that you’re far from alone when it comes to getting through life’s constant trials and tribulations.
But the good news is that there’s an incredible, natural way to drastically improve your mental well-being: personal fitness and regular exercise!
Here at Rising Legends, we believe that your fitness journey involves so much more than simply changing your body’s physicality for the better—because we’re also here to help you strengthen your mind and spirit.
Developing a comprehensive personal fitness and group workout routine will undoubtedly impact your mental health in a variety of unique ways, and below we’ll be detailing:
- The specific ways that regular exercise boosts your mental health
- The best types of workouts for your mental well-being
- How you can make personal fitness a lifestyle
How Regular Exercise Improves Your Mental Health
It’s likely that you’ve heard about how working out does a wonderful job at releasing feel-good chemicals like endorphins, but it’s also important to remember that the physical benefits of exercise go much deeper than a temporary feeling.
Here are some of the top ways that regular exercise improves your mental health:
Mood & Endorphins
Even a 20-minute walk around your neighborhood can release brain chemicals and endorphins that go a long way to ease your stress levels.
Just remember that your workout routine isn’t necessarily going to be about running marathons, because simply getting your body moving on a regular basis will get the job done when it comes to improving your mental health and making you feel better on a daily basis.
Reducing Depression & Anxiety
There are many workout studies that have shown how regular exercise reduces the symptoms associated with depression and anxiety, but it’s normal if you’re wondering why this is proven science.
What happens is your physical activities will promote neural growth and regulate stress hormones, which makes you feel lighter during those tough days when everything seems to feel heavy.
More Energy & Improved Sleep
Your workout routine will also drastically improve your daily energy levels, and having more energy during the daytime will inevitably lead to better sleep quality.
This means that you’ll find it easier to shake off your typical 2 p.m. tiredness and stay motivated for your afternoon and evening workouts!
Personal Fitness Is All About Showing Up, Not Pushing Yourself Too Hard
It’s important for fitness enthusiasts to remember that they don’t need to train like professional athletes in order to see and feel great results.
When it comes to your mental health, real improvements come from showing up to the gym on a regular basis—including when your motivation dips or when you’re feeling tired.
Even just a few short sessions per week can make a huge impact, and here’s why:
Building Resilience
Your consistent workout routine will inevitably become a part of your daily structure, which can have awesome benefits in terms of grounding yourself during stressful times.
Regular exercise teaches your body and brain that you can stick to something you care about, even when the going gets tough!
Strengthening Your Mental Discipline
It’s incredibly powerful when you prove to yourself that you can stay committed to your fitness goals and push through tough exercises.
And it’s likely that a similar mental grit will ripple into other aspects of your life as well.
Best Types Of Workouts For Your Mental Well-Being
You don’t have to exercise intensely to see mood improvements, and the best types of workouts for your mental well-being will typically be the workouts that you enjoy doing the most.
Here are some workout ideas to keep in mind:
Cardio
Cycling, walking, running, or any activity that increases your heart rate will help lift your spirit and clear your head of mental clutter.
Strength Training
Resistance workouts and weightlifting will always do a lot more than just build your muscle tone. Strength training also provides a significant sense of accomplishment, and it also boosts your confidence.
Mind-Body Workouts
Yoga, Pilates, stretching and meditation are all wonderful for calming your mind down and improving your strength and flexibility. These types of workouts are particularly helpful when you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or tense.
Group Fitness Classes
Sometimes the best type of therapy is getting in a good sweat with other people. The Rising Legends group fitness class schedule includes a wide range of different workout options, and our friendly gym community will help make exercising a lot easier and more fun!
Maintaining Motivation: How You Can Make Personal Fitness A Lifestyle
If fitness motivation feels like a struggle, then you’re definitely not alone.
The best thing you can do for your long-term fitness journey is set yourself up for success through sustainable habits that don’t feel overwhelming. Here are some tips to make personal fitness a key part of your lifestyle:
Setting Realistic Fitness Goals
The trick at the beginning of your journey is to start small. Maybe consider walking around your neighborhood a couple of times per week, or maybe join one of our fitness classes to see what workouts you enjoy.
And don’t forget to celebrate your small victories, because they definitely matter a lot!
Do Workouts You Enjoy
Are you not much of a runner, but you love dancing? Consider a workout like Zumba.
The more you enjoy your workouts, the more likely you’ll be able to maintain consistency. And when it comes to your mental health, you’ll see faster, more efficient results when you thoroughly enjoy your exercises!
Don’t Forget About Your Support System
Accountability truly matters when it comes to fitness journeys.
Whether you’re working out with a personal trainer or a workout buddy, it helps to have people encouraging you to show up to the gym and better yourself on a daily basis.
How Rising Legends Supports Mental Health Journeys In Valley Cottage, NY
No matter where your fitness journey is starting from, The Rising Legends Academy of Fitness in Valley Cottage, NY is here to guide you through every step of the way.
We help our gym members with so much more than just their physical strength and conditioning, and we understand how your mental health is a top priority while you’re navigating your way toward long-term goals and results.
Whether it’s through our diverse group classes, our expert personal trainers, or our welcoming gym environment, we believe that you should feel good while you progress through your fitness journey.
So, are you ready to take a load off your shoulders and begin a workout routine that you’ll love?
We look forward to seeing you at the gym!