Working out offers both physical and mental benefits. In addition to helping a person get in shape, physical activity increases both cognitive function and mental health. Exercises don’t have to involve intense sessions to provide benefits. There are many workouts for mental health that work to relax your mind and body.
Mental health and fitness are both connected. Regular fitness exercises can improve your overall mental health by reducing chemicals that increase stress and depression. Atlanta Center for Mental Health is here to help.
Outdoor Running
There are two options for running that include a treadmill or outdoor running. For most, the treadmill is more efficient, but in other ways, outdoor running is more effective.
If you have mild to moderate depression, stress, or anxiety, then outdoor activities will benefit your mental health the most. Running through nature tends to calm your mind, as well as think clearly amidst your busy schedules and negative thoughts. It’s like an antidepressant but minus the side-effects.
Pilates
Pilates is also a good workout for mental health. It doesn’t only involve relieving backaches and improving core strength. It’s also a mindful activity for connecting your mind and body to achieve exercise techniques outside of mental health therapies.
Focusing your mind and breathing on how your body feels as you move helps in relaxation and stress reduction. Pilates can also help you sleep at night and reduce the risks of overthinking, stress, and anxiety.
Strength Training
Training your body to lift weights benefits both your muscles and self-esteem. In fact, physically and mentally healthy people report high self-esteem and value in how they think and feel.
Resistance workouts for mental health also have cognitive benefits that allow you to feel emotionally present. It can bring forth significant improvement in other areas, such as the functioning of the central nervous system.
Stretching
Workouts for mental health also involve low-intensity activities to relieve stress and anxiety. Stretching is one of the best exercises that encourages your brain to think positively and alertly. It’s proof that you don’t have to push hard and lift weights to feel healthy.
You can combine stretching exercises with yoga or meditation to assist in making you feel better. Focus on how you breathe and how you stretch your muscles to ease the tension from your daily activities. At the end of the day, you’ll find yourself more focused, calmer, and relaxed when you go to sleep at night.
Boxing
A constant flow of stressful situations can cause you to feel frustrated, anxious, and angry. Times when you need some form of relief for frustration and anger, boxing is a great option.
Bottling your stress and frustration inside you is not good for your mental health. It drives away positive thoughts that motivate you to complete your daily tasks. So, use a boxing bag during strategic breaks in your day to improve both your mental health and fitness.
Find the Best Workouts for Mental Health
There are many reasons to take care of your mental health outside of a mental health treatment center. You must prioritize it as it greatly impacts your overall health. If you’re determined to improve your mental health, exercising isn’t the only option you have.
In addition to doing workouts, a residential mental health treatment center offers various therapeutic services for your mental well-being that include:
- Recreational therapy
- Expressive therapy
- Motivational interviewing
- Group therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Alongside your workouts for mental health, you can consult a therapist or mental health professional to track your results. They’ll assist you in improving your mental well-being and discuss with you various methods that work best for you. Reach out and call Atlanta Center for Mental Health at 833.625.0458 for help today.
