Yogi Berra was on the right track when he said, “Baseball is 90
percent mental. The other half is physical.”
The mind and body are inseparable parts of the human organism, and both benefit from exercise. More than two centuries before Yogi, James Thomson observed, “Health is the vital principle of bliss. And exercise of health.” Regular exercise fights depression and dissipates anxiety. The rhythmic, repetitive routine of activities such as walking, jogging, and swimming functions as muscular meditation. Sharing some of the benefits of zental meditation,exercise improves the quality of sleep. Although the data are less complete, sexual function also appears to benefit. The result is a better mood, improved performance at work and at home, and increased self-esteem
Scientists are still working to understand how exercise improves mental function. Part of the benefit may be purely psychological, the natural result of feeling more energetic and looking better. Hormones may also play a role, since exercise reduces stress hormones and boosts the production and release of endorphins, the body’s own pain-reducing hormones that have been linked to the so-called runner’s high. And a small study suggests that exercise may also help nerves carry their messages to and from the brain faster. Research is also uncovering an additional neurological benefit of regular exercise: a reduced risk of cognitive decline (dementia), particularly in old age
percent mental. The other half is physical.”
The mind and body are inseparable parts of the human organism, and both benefit from exercise. More than two centuries before Yogi, James Thomson observed, “Health is the vital principle of bliss. And exercise of health.” Regular exercise fights depression and dissipates anxiety. The rhythmic, repetitive routine of activities such as walking, jogging, and swimming functions as muscular meditation. Sharing some of the benefits of zental meditation,exercise improves the quality of sleep. Although the data are less complete, sexual function also appears to benefit. The result is a better mood, improved performance at work and at home, and increased self-esteem
Scientists are still working to understand how exercise improves mental function. Part of the benefit may be purely psychological, the natural result of feeling more energetic and looking better. Hormones may also play a role, since exercise reduces stress hormones and boosts the production and release of endorphins, the body’s own pain-reducing hormones that have been linked to the so-called runner’s high. And a small study suggests that exercise may also help nerves carry their messages to and from the brain faster. Research is also uncovering an additional neurological benefit of regular exercise: a reduced risk of cognitive decline (dementia), particularly in old age
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