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Exercising is one of the best ways to relieve the stress that you have accumulated over a longer period of time. The endorphins that your body releases when you are engaging in physical activity are the ones responsible for this effect.
People who say that running or walking in the park clears their head do not lie. Exercising is one of the easiest remedies for stress, regardless of its nature.
Unfortunately, not many people know what types of exercises they should do to relax. This is why, in this article, we will be talking about four of the most popular exercises that relieve stress that anyone can do.
1. Physical activities that require lots of energy
Any exercise that requires a whole lot of energy is beneficial for stress relief.
Activities like dancing, running, roller skating, or riding a spin bike can clear your head and make you forget about stress. The idea here is that these exercises increase your heart rate and, when this happens, endorphins are released, which make you feel good.
In fact, these types of exercise are natural opiates that don’t have any negative side effects, and which are created by your own body. You only need to get your doctor’s approval before starting such high-intensity workouts because they are not recommended for people who have heart issues.
What’s more, these exercises also help with other problems. For example, you can read this article on the many health benefits of riding a stationary bike to see what makes spin bikes the ultimate home gym machines. They are not only helping you beat stress, but they can also improve your heart health while being easy on the joints. And the benefits don’t end here.
2. Pilates
The workout known as Pilates got its name from the man who created it, Joseph Pilates. It consists of a series of movements and various exercises done on the mat that make you stronger and more flexible and help you build endurance.
Pilates is, in fact, what’s called an anaerobic exercise, which is completely different from aerobic exercises. Most Pilates practitioners say that it has helped them improve their mental strength and forget about daily stress.
Moreover, Pilates is known for toning the body and making you look better which increases your self-esteem and therefore, reduces stress.
You can practice Pilates in the comfort of your own home watching DVDs or YouTube videos, along with the right home equipment. You can also take classes or practice it at your local gym if they have this program.
If Pilates does not look like a real exercise to you, know that getting into the DIY business might be a great stress reliever? Here is an interesting post on how some DIY projects can help you deal with stress a lot better and free your mind.
3. Yoga
Yoga is probably the most popular exercise for stress relief that people nowadays do.
This particular exercise involves both the body and the mind, and it’s comprised of a series of slow movements and poses that you need to combine with various types of deep breathing.
The idea behind yoga is for it to increase your body’s natural response to relaxation and help you regain your emotional balance more quickly.
Yoga for beginners aka “gentle yoga” is perfect for stress relief. There is also “power yoga” which is practiced in many classes, but this is usually a bit too rough if you only want to decrease your stress level.
4. Martial arts
If you plan to spend that extra energy and get rid of stress you can also try practicing martial arts. You can choose from a variety of them, like judo, karate, tae kwon do, Krav Maga, and many more.
The movements that they imply are extremely beneficial for people who want to release frustration, anger, and tension, and choose to do it in a non-violent way.
Moreover, besides helping you maintain an active lifestyle, martial arts also teach you what discipline means, how to become calm and contained during a stressful or tense situation, and how to defend yourself when the situation calls for it.
There are numerous benefits when it comes to learning a martial art, stress relief being only one of them. Kickboxing acts as a stress reliever too, but it can also improve your strength and flexibility.
Conclusion
Finally, it seems that being engaged in any kind of high-energy physical activity, like yoga, martial arts, Pilates, or DIY projects, can help you greatly in overcoming stress.
Stress relief should be a part of everybody’s routine at the end of a long and hard day at work.
Even walking your dog or working in the garden are two other stress-relieving activities that you can always do.
Luke S. Mitchell is an MS Undergraduate in Sports Journalism and manager of Defend Your Healthcare. He is interested not only in the mind-body relationship and how motivation shapes our bodies but also in how we draw energy just from one simple yet powerful thought.