Life can be pretty stressful, especially around this time of year when it can be extra busy, but it’s important to have methods to relieve stress and build a healthier, happier mind as well as body. While exercise on the whole is a great way to reduce mental and physical stress, there are certain workouts that have an even bigger impact then others. Our blog is going to fly through five workouts that will help you keep your stress levels low and have you feeling on top of the world. So, without further delay, let’s dive right into our top five stress relieving workouts.
Walk, Jog, Run
All forms of walking, jogging, or running are a brilliant way to relieve stress, hence, we’ve combined them all into one here. These are forms of cardio exercises, which mean they increase your heart rate, however, each one of them encourages you to focus on your breathing and movement, which can be hugely relaxing. The great thing about all of these is that they can be performed on a treadmill, at a tempo that suits you, allowing you to meet your fitness goals, while also leaving room for you to take time away from the world by listening to your favourite tunes or watching your comfort show on your phone. Walking can be a fantastic way to start or end a workout as you allow your body to adjust, bring your heart rate up or down, while jogging can help you zone in, burn calories, increase the pace, and running can be an ideal way to work off steam, resetting your mind, all of which lead to less stress.
Swimming
While hitting the treadmill can be a perfect way to destress the mind, it can also lead to you pushing yourself too hard at times physically, which is why swimming is a perfect antidote for stress relief. Swimming enables the release of endorphins (stress-relieving hormones), like with most physical activity, but unlike others, swimming is a low impact exercise, meaning your joints and muscles aren’t put under as much stress as when you perform your regular gym workouts. Don’t worry about losing muscle either, as swimming is a perfect exercise for muscle building, as well as that being in water can be calming on our body too. Overall, swimming is an incredible way to brush off the stress of your day, with massive benefits for the body and mind, helping you not only feel great but look great too.
Spinning
Another fun exercise to relieve stress is spinning, whether it’s in a class or on a bike in the gym. What’s ideal about spinning by yourself is that you’re on a stationary bike without anything in your way, allowing you to fully focus on being in that moment, which also ensures you can clear your mind. Again, like with being on the treadmill, it can be the perfect time to not only keep fit but have some you time by listening to music, or watching something, or even talking to your friend on a bike beside you. Meanwhile, in a spinning class you won’t have the alone time afforded on a bike in the gym, but this can lend itself to being part of a group, creating a social aspect, which is very important to your mental health and taking your stress down a notch.
Strength Training
While strength training can put more pressure on the body, it is also another exercise which encourages you to focus on your breathing while releasing plenty of endorphins. The high level of endorphins released during this form of training helps improve your mood, reduce stress, and bring down anxiety levels. As well as all the mental benefits strength training provides, it also helps increase your metabolism, improve your bone density, and funnily enough build strength. When strength training you should make sure you work on all areas of the body, not only the ones you check out in the mirror, this allows you to build your overall fitness level, which in turn will have you feeling more confident and less stressed.
Aqua Aerobics
Aqua aerobics is one of the best workouts for your body and mind, as you destress both in one go. Aqua aerobics classes are a low-impact workout, that put less stress on your body and joints, as well as aiding in active recovery from injuries, due to the resistance of the water. Every movement works your muscles, increasing your fitness levels with every session, but beyond all of the physical benefits, aqua aerobics classes allow you to socialise and are accessible to people of all ages. As mentioned above, being in the water has a calming effect on the body, while the community aspect of the classes is a brilliant way to forget about the stresses of the world around you, all while burning plenty of calories and having fun.
The Vital Role Exercise Plays in Stress Management
There you have it, our top five workouts for relieving stress when times get overwhelming in life. While these are our top five suggestions, any form of exercise is crucial to destressing your mind and body, most importantly exercises or workout routines you enjoy, while it’s important to also remember to rest up when needed, as well as avoiding common fitness mistakes. Whether you’re a beginner starting out, or someone more advanced, it is crucial to enjoy your workouts to ensure you stay motivated and reap the rewards of your hard work mentally as well as physically. Take your time to try new workouts or fitness classes, shake it up with alone time or social exercises, whatever works for you to keep your mental and physical health at its peak is best.
How Aura Leisure Can Help
At Aura Leisure we provide state-of-the-art facilities that can cater for any of the exercises mentioned above, or anything else, with our incredible gyms and swimming pools. We have a wide range of fitness classes, no matter your fitness level or experience, with everything from Aura Spin to Aura HIIT Cardio, Aura Pump to Aura Core, and beyond. While for those in need of some guidance on their fitness journey we’ve got you covered with our personalised fitness programmes Fit for Life and Lean3. While you can learn how to swim or take your techniques to new heights with our adult swim lessons, or head for our aqua aerobics classes to get in your low-impact workout, and even better still most of this is free to Aura members.