Fitness isn’t just about looking good, although that’s a fantastic motivator; it also has an amazing impact on our mental health.
Below are some of the key benefits supported by scientific research:
- Exercise reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety by increasing endorphins (feel- good chemicals) and neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine reducing tension promoting relaxation and helping to manage anxiety.
- Exercise lowers stress hormones ( adrenaline and cortisol) and stimulates the production of endorphins, which act as natural painkillers and elevate mood.
- Regular exercise helps regulate sleep patterns, improving both sleep quality and duration. Better sleep contributes to improved mood, reduced fatigue, and greater emotional resilience.
- Exercise enhances cognitive function by increasing blood flow to the brain, improving memory, focus, and mental sharpness. It also promotes neurogenesis ( the creation of new brain cells,) particularly in the hippocampus, the region involved in learning and memory.
- Exercise promotes healthy coping skills by offering a constructive outlet for frustration and negative emotions as well as adding structure and a sense of purpose.
- Exercise in group settings adds social connection, reducing a sense of isolation and loneliness. Social interaction itself is a protective factor for mental health.
- Exercise boosts self-esteem and confidence by promoting a sense of accomplishment and control, which helps build emotional resistance. Achieving fitness goals and improving physical health enhances self-image.
“Our bodies and our minds are intrinsically linked. From a scientific point of view, exercise is the best prescription for better mental health, and we all know that when we look better, we tend to feel better!”
Ray Douglass, BodyMindBalance
Movement Is Medicine
When you first step through the doors at Sculpt Pilates, you are met with a group of like-minded people with different goals. With these varying goals comes the shared belief that Movement is Medicine. You don’t need to study the benefits of exercise to understand that you feel better after going on a walk, or how your mind becomes a blank canvas during your Sculpt class, and you’re wondering if there’s a “hold that pose and pulse” coming next (there usually is). Movement is the foundation of wellness.
“As a Physical Therapist, I prescribe exercise to all of my patients. There is no body system that is not directly affected by movement, and the benefits are limitless. Anyone that has suffered and come back from an injury is a first hand witness to how resilient the body truly is. Our bodies have an innate function to heal themselves as long as they are provided with key pillars such as movement, recovery, and nutrition. When you take a class at Sculpt Pilates, you are doing more than improving your muscular endurance to “tone your muscles.” You are fundamentally providing your body with defenses against anything life has to throw at you, utilizing its primitive need to move.”
Eri Roba, DPT, CSCS