Exercise for Stress Relief
By: Amanda Leggett, LMT and Certified Personal Trainer
Over the 8+ years I have spent working as a Personal Trainer, one thing has become abundantly clear to me: regular exercise increases long-lasting feelings of calm and confidence. Clients usually come to me with one of three goals – increased strength, decreased pain levels, or overall physical health. Together we are almost always able to achieve these goals.
When folks work with me, they usually see me for sessions anywhere from 3 times a week to once every 3 weeks. Clients often do workouts that I plan for them in between our sessions. Regularly, they report moving differently during activities of daily living such as carrying groceries or driving their cars. And along the journey of working together, one thing consistently happens that’s almost never stated in their initial goals: my clients become less stressed-out humans.
Exercise allows us to focus on our bodies for an allotted amount of time, and let go of needing to achieve something on our to-do list. I think this “letting go” is a key reason that exercise is good for our mental health. And while we are letting go of life’s stressors, we are providing our bodies with changes that last for days and weeks after the movement, such as strengthening our muscles, improving heart health, and increasing the chances of a good night’s sleep.
In more scientific terms, exercise reduces stress by creating endorphins, commonly thought of as “feel good” hormones. Interestingly, endorphins themselves do not cause a direct change in mood because they do not cross the blood-brain barrier. Instead, endorphins reduce pain, decrease inflammation, and trigger the release of dopamine, which does provide a feeling of pleasure. Research has revealed another hormone released at the same time as endorphins called endocannabinoids (structurally similar to cannabis molecules but made internally by the body) which can cross the blood-brain barrier. This chemical may be responsible for some of the feel-good effects of exercise, and research is still ongoing.
As a Personal Trainer I find so much joy in seeing my clients get stronger and feel better overall. It’s usually after a few months of working with me that a client might say something like “I really feel better.” What's more, the movements and mindsets I teach clients stick with them for years to come.
If you are interested in scheduling a strength training session with me, here is a link to my schedule. Click here to learn more about me and get in touch if you have questions. Please note that sessions take place in an individual, private room at Common Ground, not a traditional gym setting.
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