My fellow couch potatoes,
Sadly, there’s no more denying it: Working out benefits you in an alarming number of ways, and with all the new forms of exercise out there, we’re running out of excuses to sit on the couch.
Exercise is no longer engineered purely for athletes and bodybuilders. With a number of new classes available and fun, engaging physical activities, exercise has opened itself up to an entirely new audience: the devastatingly uncoordinated, the eternally clumsy, the helplessly inactive.
Aside from being (debatably) enjoyable, exercise can positively affect several aspects of your life. Here are just a few:
**Ease stress and anxiety**: By easing physical tension in your body through working out your muscles, you can relieve stress within your mind as well. Give yoga a try for a full-body stretch and some serious tension release.
**Distract yourself**: If you’ve got something going on in your life that you’d really love to take a mental break from, there are tons of classes that offer a rigorous and stimulating workout that require concentration and focus, making you forget all about whatever was bothering you. For beginners, try out a Pilates class. Most of the exercises are done laying down, and there are different levels of the class you can take. For something a little more challenging, try PiYo, which combines pilates and yoga for an all-over body workout.
**Lift your mood**: Getting your heartbeat racing releases chemicals called endorphins, natural pain and stress fighters that are shown to increase your self-esteem and boost your mood. Plus, the soreness you feel the next day after a workout is sure to remind you of all the hard work you put in and make you feel great. Try something like a hip-hop or Zumba class.
**Fight depression**: Studies have shown that regular moderate exercise can be just as effective in warding off mild depression as actual antidepressants, minus all the side effects. This can be linked back to the endorphins released during exercise!
**Give your mind some air**: Although it can serve as a great diversion, working out can also allow you quiet time to think. Try out an exercise that doesn’t require too much concentration and instead focuses on endurance and time, like cycling, running, hiking or swimming.
**Improve sleep**: The burst of energy you get after exercising will keep you on a high for hours, but you’ll also find yourself sleeping like a rock that night when you go to bed. For the best improvements in your sleep, try getting your workout in a few hours before you plan on going to bed. And remember that the exercise doesn’t need to be particularly rigorous; a moderate workout has shown to be nearly as effective as a demanding one.
**Cope with your emotions**: Typically, stressful or painful situations make us want to find comfort in things — not all of them healthy. Whether you take solace in food, alcohol or something else that you know is probably not the most positive way of handling your feelings, try expressing yourself through your exercise.
Keep in mind that working out doesn’t need to _feel_ like working out. If you’re not into going to the gym or being on a regimented schedule, make exercise a social activity.
Go on a bike ride or a hike with your friends, swim in the community pool or take your dog on a walk. Making a daily effort to stay active will give you the results you’re looking for, mentally _and_ physically!