Your Mind and Spirit in Motion

There's no denying that moving our bodies benefits our physical health. It protects and strengthens our muscles and leads to better mobility, balance, and coordination. It protects our bones, making them more durable and dense. It protects our joints, making us more flexible (as I learned from my chiropractor, “MOTION is LOTION”). And it protects our heart and lungs, cutting our risk of heart disease by 50% when we improve our lungs’ endurance.

Those are just some of the physical benefits we get when we move our bodies, and we hear a lot about them. But this week, I also want to focus on some of the lesser-known benefits of motion – improvements to our mental and spiritual health.

Brain health is important to mental health, and moving the body can literally change the brain. For example, walking 30 to 40 minutes a day three times per week has been found to grow and “regrow” the parts of your brain involved in memory, reasoning, and learning. Moving regularly can also help reduce anxiety and depression, stabilize your emotions, boost your mood, decrease stress, and increase your energy levels by releasing brain chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.

I also believe that when we put our bodies in motion, we benefit our spiritual health in many ways. By staying physically active, we gain self-esteem, self-confidence, self-worth, self-respect, and self-love. Higher energy levels can promote a more positive attitude and outlook on life. And if we go outside to move around, our spirits are lifted when we connect with nature.

Types of movement that are particularly effective in improving mental and spiritual health include:

• Meditative movements, such as yoga or tai chi, which focus on body sensations, position, and breathing.

• Aerobic exercises, such as biking, swimming, or running, which increase your heart rate and lead your brain to release endorphins that help boost your mood.

• Synchronized movements, such as dancing or marching, which can improve self-esteem by building feelings of cooperation and connection.

Like so many other things when it comes to self-care, the key to keeping your body in motion is to find something you love doing and start small. If you haven’t been active, it’s best to check with your physician first, especially if you have had health problems in the past. You may want to start with low-impact activities such as walking, and then gradually build in intensity as your stamina and energy increase.

Incorporating a variety of activities into your routine can help motivate you to keep moving. And if possible, find someone you enjoy being with to accompany you. That way, you’ll be more likely to stick with it and make it part of your routine. It will soon become something YOU will want to do to respect and love your body.