http://positivetranceformations.com.au/blog/mind-and-body-the-exercise-connection/ What happens in our minds affects our bodies and the reverse is also true: what happens to our bodies affects our minds.

1. Mind and Body:
The Exercise Connection 2
positivetranceformations.com.au

2. Does what you do with your body affect
your mind?

3. Those who have practiced yoga would
definitely agree with this idea: the word
“yoga” means “yoke” and refers to the
mind-body connection,

4. with the idea that the postures taken
during a yoga session will relax you
and get you into a state of mind where
you are ready to communicate with the
gods – that’s why the yogis and
Brahmins came up with the exercises
in the first place.

5. But other things you do with your body
can affect your mind and your mood in
a much less calculated fashion. In
general, exercise tends to make you
feel good.

6. This means that a good exercise
session can help you with a number of
mental and emotional problems
including depression and anxiety.

7. Why exercise makes you feel better
could be due to a number of reasons.

8. Firstly, exercise gets your blood and
heart going, and this helps you think
more clearly as well as being physically
good for you.

9. Your body isn’t stupid and it tends to
enjoy things that are good for it if you
listen to it carefully.

10. When you exercise, your body releases
endorphins to help you perform the
physical activity you’re doing – and
endorphins make you feel great!

11. Secondly, exercising gives you a
sense of achievement, which boosts
your self-esteem and confidence.

12. OK, so you feel as though you might
not be able to control your
circumstances or overcome the
problems that are making you anxious,
but you can overcome the challenge of
going for a run or a long walk, or doing
a weights session.

13. Thirdly, exercise channels some of the
hormones that are triggered by anxiety
or stress into a beneficial channel.

14. When you worry about something or
feel stressed about something, your
body produces adrenaline.

15. Adrenaline makes your heart pump a
bit harder and your breathing quicken
as your body primes itself for action. If
you don’t take action – usually because
the thing that’s stressing you out or
making you panic can’t be fought or run
away from

16. – then these chemicals buzz around in
your system and build up, often
resulting in a panic attack or some of
the physical symptoms of anxiety (and
there’s another example of how the
mind can affect the body).

17. But if you go for a long walk, dig your
garden over, pound a pillow or put
yourself through an intense cardio
session, you get to release that energy
and burn it off so it doesn’t cause you
problems.

18. Exercise also gives you the chance to
focus on something else other than the
problems that are making you stressed,
worried or depressed.

19. It’s hard to think about the argument
you had with your partner when you’re
counting the number of crunches
you’ve done.

20. What’s more, the context in which we
exercise is also beneficial in itself. If
you go for a walk, run or bike ride, you
often get the chance to see a lot of the
beauty of the natural world

21. (yes, even in the middle of the city) as
well as exposing yourself to fresh air
(rather than air conditioning) and
sunshine – sunshine’s a well-known
mood booster!

22. Read more Mind and Body connection
at Hypnosis Brisbane.

23. positivetranceformations.com.au
(07) 5576 6410