Exercising releases endorphins, the brain’s feel-good chemicals.
If you are someone who works out on a daily basis, it’s not just coincidence that you are generally happier, feeling less stressed and have more energy. What is it about training that really gives us that happy feeling?
Strength training can do many things for the body, including shape and balance it, help to burn fat, increase fitness levels and keep you healthy, but it can also provide you with a level of happiness as an unexpected side effect.
When you exercise you release endorphins and endorphins make you feel happy. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, known as the feel-good chemical, that plays a role in happiness, think of that happy feeling you get after eating chocolate, except without the calories.
When you finish a strength training session, you may feel happy and relaxed, this is due to the release of endorphins.
Strength training on a regular basis will also help you feel less stressed and not just in the short-term. It improves your sleep. When we sleep, we release growth hormones which help our bodies regenerate. If you are missing out on your eight hours of sleep, you are also missing out on this youthful hormone.
A strong body makes a strong mind. When we continually strength train we feel strong and in control and, usually, with a strong body comes a strong mind. Strength training is about having to persevere through challenging sessions to get to the other side. You can challenge yourself knowing that you have achieved something, which can be very rewarding.
Strength training can help reduce symptoms of depression, due to the release of endorphins.
Like anything, keep it up and keep pushing and you may surprise yourself at just how happy you feel.
Strength training
In out squat jump
- Start in a semi squat position, with feet wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Jump into the air, changing your foot direction to split squat before landing.
- Then dip towards the floor before jumping back to the squat position and completing a squat, repeating as you go.
Press-up
- Start on your knees or toes with hands under your chest and back flat in plank position.
- Lower yourself to the ground, then back to start position. Keep the back flat throughout.
Sumo squat
- Start by standing upright with your arms straight and your feet wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Simply lower yourself toward the floor, sending your hips back and down and bending your knees.
- Then push through your heels to return to the start position, keeping your back straight and head up throughout the exercise.
