Are you trying to find new ways of taking care of yourself and your mental health? Or perhaps slightly bored during COVID-19? Exercise is a very useful way to alleviate any stress and pass the time!
Exercising has many benefits for both physical and mental health. In general, exercise has been proven to help improve mood, self-esteem, body image, energy levels, the ability to cope with stressors, and sleep patterns. Physical activity has also been proven to help mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Getting exercise can help depressive symptoms by releasing endorphins to help give you energy and feel good. If you are facing anxiety, a helpful tip to help alleviate the symptoms is to notice a sensation while exercising, such as the rhythm of your breathing. This incorporation of mindfulness can help to pay attention to the feeling of exercising and distract yourself from the worries you may be experiencing.
Even though restrictions remain on recreational centers and gyms at the moment, there are many ways you can exercise without going to the gym. Now that summer is approaching, it makes it easier to go for long walks, runs, go on a bike ride with family members or friends, or take advantage of the beautiful Rocky Mountains and enjoy a hike (while social distancing of course). If you enjoy playing sports, you can always invite friends to a basketball court to play a game or simply shoot some hoops for the afternoon! If you prefer to stay inside, there are free exercise classes to access online, including yoga. If you are interested in trying yoga, here is a link to a free beginner yoga class:
