Why Stress Reduction is Such an Important Part of Your Overall Fitness Plan
Article by Edward
If you're like many people, you have a solid workout and fitness plan in place, designed to help you get to or maintain a healthy weight, as well as maintain overall health and strength. But, what you may not realize is that if your fitness plan doesn't include stress reduction, you're making reaching your fitness goals harder than it needs to be.
When your body is under stress, your brain releases the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is an important hormone, and we need it for glucose metabolism, blood pressure regulation, insulin release and to support our immune function. But, though cortisol is released naturally every day, it is released in excess during times of stress. Cortisol is designed to be released by the body during times of stress as part of the "fight or flight" response. However, our bodies are also designed to have our functions return to normal after such periods of stress, causing cortisol levels to drop. When we're under "chronic" stress, cortisol levels can stay constantly elevated, which can cause the following:
- Impaired cognitive performance - Suppressed thyroid function - Blood sugar imbalances - Decreased bone density - Decrease in muscle tissue - Higher blood pressure - Lowered immunity and inflammatory responses in the body, slowed wound healing, and other health consequences - Increased abdominal fat
As you can see, when your body is consistently releasing too much cortisol, it is working against many of the things your fitness routine is designed to help. So, in order to maintain health and meet those weight and fitness goals, keeping stress in check is critical.
Learning to Manage Stress
Fortunately, if you're exercising regularly, you're already ahead of the game. Exercise is, for many people, a great way to reduce stress. Exercise relaxes the mind and body and increases oxygen into the cardiovascular system.
Exercise also releases endorphins, the body's "feel good" hormone, which helps improve your general, overall attitude, relie! ving the stress and frustrations you feel.
Exercise also offers a positive distraction from the things that are bugging you, like the pressure you feel from a stressful job. Finally, exercise reduces stress in the long run by helping you maintain a healthy weight and by helping you keep your overall body healthy. When you're overweight or have health issues, these issues increase your overall stress level.
For many people, especially those who have been regular exercisers for a long period of time, their ordinary exercise routine may cease to be enough to provide all the stress relief the body requires. For these people, additional stress management techniques may be in order.
In addition, you may need additional stress management techniques when you go through short periods of undue stress in your life. For example, let's say you have a very stressful job, but you've found that your daily run really takes the edge off. You may still need additional stress management techniques if you suddenly face a crisis at home, like an ailing spouse or a home renovation.
Great Stress Management Techniques
There are many ways to manage stress. You can use additional exercise methods that are designed to work the body and ease the mind, like - Yoga - Pilates
The stretching and holding movements you'll find in both of these types of activities can relax muscles in the body, which helps reduce tension and stress in the body. In addition, the overall relaxed pace of yoga and Pilates can slow your body and your mind down after a stressful day. As an added benefit, both of these types of exercise will increase your body's strength, balance and flexibility.
There are lots of other ways to reduce stress. Try meditating for a few minutes every day or deep breathing exercises before you fall asleep at night. Getting a massage or taking a hot bath at the end of a long day can do wonders as well.
Keeping your life in balance is one of the best ways to reduce stress over the long term.! Don't d evote too much time to working, neglecting the things you love to do. A good balance of work, play, exercise, sleep and nutritious food can help keep your body and your mind healthy.
About the AuthorHi my name is Edward & I am the author of a strength training ebook titled How To Get Ripped, Cut & Buff
Guitar Technique: Relaxation & Stress Reduction
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