Video: 3 reasons to exercise for soul health

Here are three reasons why you need to move more—

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Reason #1 = remember that tiredness mimics depression and depression mimics tiredness.

Exercise, though, actually generates its own energy. So, when you move— even if it’s just a 20-30 minute walk— you send your body sparking in the opposite direction.

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Reason #2 = exercise is a neurological process that fires the left side of the brain.

Whereas the right side of your brain is emotive and creative, the left side of the brain is the logical, rational hemisphere. Exercise, then, awakens the part of your mind that, by default, deals more with logic and reason rather than emotion.

For sure, both sides of the brain are important. But, when you’re dealing with hard things it’s important to not only feel them but to also work through them in an ordered way. “Waking” the left side of the brain helps you sort, file, and review as you move forward.

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Reason #3 = exercise awakens your parasympathetic nervous system (as opposed to the sympathetic nervous system).

Here’s the difference:

Sympathetic is responsible for the response commonly referred to as "fight or flight," while parasympathetic is referred to as "rest and digest.”

... The sympathetic nervous system is the part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body to react to stresses such as threat or injury.

In other words, the sympathetic nervous system— by default— generates the survival instincts commonly exhibited in cases of PTSD.  The sympathetic nervous system can make you feel like you’re dealing with stress— even if you’re not.

The parasympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, is the opposite of stress. It puts your body at rest which— as you might remember— places us back in rhythm.

Like I mention in other places, most of my best ideas emerge while I’m exercising, when my body and mind are free to just “be.” My thoughts organize themselves, the chaos evaporates, and things begin making sense.

Why?

Because the left side of the brain, the place which creates logical order and outlines ideas, comes alive. And, the entire part of the nervous system which works the opposite of “fight vs. flight” awakens.

Plus, let’s be honest, exercise makes you look better. And, often, just looking better automatically makes you feel better.

This is an important aspect of walking in the “therapeuo” type of healing….