Why Exercise is Good for Your Mental Health

Imagine an activity that not only enhances physical fitness but also elevates mood, boosts energy, and reduces stress and anxiety. This activity can be done anywhere, anytime, and requires no special equipment. That’s the power of exercise for mental health – a strong connection showing how moving your body can elevate your mind and transform your life.

Just one session of exercise can immediately stimulate the creation of new brain cells, enhancing your mood, whether it’s a walk, lifting weights, or dancing with friends.

The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise

While much of the current conversation around mental health focuses on depression and anxiety, the broader scope includes a variety of conditions – from anxiety-related to trauma-related, and impulse-control disorders. Exercise has been shown to positively impact diverse conditions, demonstrating the powerful effects of even simple physical activity. Exercising in a gym environment, joining group fitness classes, or engaging in social sports can also boost mental health by building social connections.

These shared activities help create relationships that improve mental health outcomes. Research dating from the 1970s to today has shown that forming bonds through shared experiences in exercise can enhance a sense of belonging, a crucial component in mental health support.

For many mental health conditions, aerobic exercise (or cardio) – activities that raise the heart rate, such as running, swimming, or cycling – is one of the most beneficial forms of exercise. Aerobic exercise can also include boxing, dancing, and group fitness classes. However, research increasingly supports the benefits of resistance training for different mental health conditions, while yoga has proven especially effective for anxiety, trauma, addiction, and impulse-control conditions, among others.

How Exercise Improves Mental Health

If you’re curious about the science, here’s where the magic happens. Endorphins, the well-known “feel-good” hormones, are the first boost we get from exercise. Even more significant, though, is the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that promotes the growth of new brain cells. BDNF levels are often lower in people experiencing mental health challenges, so exercise, by boosting BDNF, can be a powerful tool.

The Caveat

Not every type of exercise suits every individual or condition. For example, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) might exacerbate anxiety in some people while helping others. Similarly, a gentle walk may help some manage impulse-control disorders but worsen it for others. Understanding how different exercises affect you, both positively and negatively, is essential. Keeping a log of activities and their impact can be a valuable tool for maximising mental health benefits.

Getting Started

Starting a fitness journey can feel challenging, but every small step counts. Begin by lacing up, sipping some water, and heading out for a relaxed 15–20-minute walk or light jog. Just five minutes outdoors is enough to start feeling the positive effects. When you're ready to build on your routine, Snap Fitness will be here to support you every step of the way.

Snap Fitness is Here to Help

Chat to one of our Personal Trainers at Snap Fitness to help you build a programme tailored just for you. If this feels a bit daunting, you can start by signing up at your local Snap Fitness 24/7 gym and exploring our Snap App. It offers a variety of programmes and workouts to suit your needs, making it easier to get started at your own pace.