Exercise And Stress

Even though exercise may not be the most exciting word in your vocabulary, it sure is a word with a lot of benefits.  Participating in daily exercise will not only make you healthier in general, but it can also diminish the effects of stress on your body as well. Think about all the times you have heard someone say "the doctor says it's stress related".  Normally people will laugh it off, concluding that doctors say that when they don't know the real answers or diagnosis.  The truth of the matter is that too much stress will play a role in many diseases. To help increase your immune system and decrease your stress level as well, try exercise, as movement is the key word here.  Bending, stretching, reaching and walking.  There's really no need to buy any expensive equipment either, as you can implement more movement into your daily routine and reap the benefits. If you like aerobic exercise, you should grab a partner and have a blast with one of the basic aerobic videos.  Or, you can simply go out for a walk and enjoy spending time together.  As you may have heard, walking really is the best overall exercise you can do for your health.  As long as you have a pair of walking shoes, you'll be fine. As you go through your daily activities, make it a point to walk a little farther, bend down and pick something up without using a pick up stick or moving the item towards you with your foot.  While you are sitting, you should also do some simple and quick stretches for your neck and shoulders. If you enjoy sitting around watching television, you should consider buying a jogging board.  These padded boards will make running, jumping, or walking in place less stressful on your knees and joints.  They are easy to store as well and also very portable. In many people's opinions, jogging boards are the best pieces of equipment you can buy.  They are also far cheaper than bulky treadmills and stationary bikes. There are several different exercises that you can do to help you eliminate the stress in your life.  Walking is by far the best, as you can easily lose yourself and your troubles by walking.  Even if it is just around the block, walking can do wonders for your health as well as stress. If you have a lot of stress in your life, you may want to consider a gym.  Working out then sitting in the sauna is also a good way to relieve tension.  If your gym has a pool, you may find swimming to be very beneficial as well, as it helps you to relax. I exercise three times a week consistently and have found it to improve my moods. I feel refreshed afterwards and it has really helped me through stressful events and depression. The challenge is the battle of making yourself get out there and do it. I do it even if I don't feel well, I feel guilty when I don't do it. Good luck and stay healthy. Christina L Norris