Member Article

Alternative stress relief

When life’s annoyances or frustrating situations build up, you can feel stressed or experience low-grade anger. More high-energy forms of exercise like boxing, martial arts or weight training can provide an effective release of these negative emotions, turning these otherwise potentially unhealthy emotions into motivation for increased health and well-being.

Physical exercise is one of the most effective ways of relieving stress. Exercising the body regularly is very effective in managing stress, on its own or as a part of a stress management plan. Getting into better shape improves your mental health as well as your physical health.

When we physically exert ourselves, the body releases chemical substances (endorphins) that are similar in nature to opiates. These natural substances produced by our own bodies are free of side effects, except for making us feel great.

When it comes to stress management, every little bit of exercise counts. Don’t think if you can’t commit to a stringent fitness routine that it’s useless. It’s not. What motivates people to do more of something is to do little of something.

Physical activity itself can take your mind off of your problems and either redirect it on the activity at hand and allows you to clear your mind. Exercise usually involves a change of scenery as well, either taking you to a gym, a dojo, a boxing ring, a park, a scenic mountain or a biking trail, all of which can be pleasant, low-stress places.

The benefits of social support are well-documented and manifold. Because exercise and physical activity can often involve others, you can enjoy a double dose of stress-relief with the combined benefits of exercise and fun with friends. Whether you’re in a class with others, working out in the gym with a friend, playing football in a league or taking a walk or hike with a friend, having others work out with you can make you feel good as well as help motivate you to push harder to get a better workout without it feeling so much like ‘work’.

While stress can cause illness, illness can also cause stress, with the physical pain, missed activities, feelings of isolation and other costs that come with it. So improving your overall health and longevity with exercise can also save you a great deal of stress in the short run (by strengthening your immunity to colds, the flu and other minor illnesses) and the long run (by helping you stay healthier longer, and enjoy life more because of it).

That’s right, research suggests that physical activity may be linked to lower physiological reactivity toward stress. Simply put, those who get more exercise may become less affected by the stress they face. So, in addition to all the other benefits, exercise may supply some immunity toward future stress as well as a way to cope with current stress. If that’s not a great reason to get more active, I don’t know what is!

So if you fancy taking up a new sport and becoming part of our little community please fell free to get in touch.

Tel: 07917616029

Email: Julie@justforkicks.org.uk

www.justforkicks.org.uk

Just for Kicks Martial Arts is Newcastle’s only ladies only Kickboxing class. The programme has been running for 5 years but we are currently looking for new recruits. Over the years we have had a whole range of students through the door from tall to short, fat to thin, seriously unfit to the super human. They all started from scratch with no previous experience and it was proud day when we awarded our first black belt to Nicky after 5 years of training a couple of months ago.

Students train for a whole range of reasons, weight loss, increased fitness, the social aspect but they all agree – there is nothing better for stress relief.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Julie Spowart .