CAN MOVEMENT REGULATE YOUR MENTAL WELLBEING?

REAL fights for enhanced mental wellbeing through physical action. We believe that nothing regulates our mentality and emotions better than our physicality.

We have a choice - we are in charge.

In a noisy, modern world we live in an ‘attention economy’, spending most of the time in our heads.When we move, we go into our bodies. This gives our mind a moment to breathe - it is mediative. In this mediative state we live in the immediacy of felt experience.

“When the body is busy - the mind is empty”

When we move we oxygenate the blood, we enliven every physical mechanism, we feel more co-ordinated and connected, leaving us feeling good in our bodies. 

Doing something physical gives us agency, it reminds us of our capabilities and we feel more in control. As the days shorten, temperatures drop and the weather becomes more irratic, we must be bigger than our circumstances. 

MOOD

When we move a cocktail of neurochemicals, transmitters, hormones and proteins drives communication between brain cells to better regulate physical, mental and emotional health.

Serotonin 
Most commonly associated with mood, low serotonin levels are a significant contributing factor in depression. Exercise is the most effective way to naturally increase our levels of serotonin, regulating our mood, appetite and sleep. In addition, it's worth noting that up to 95% of naturally occuring serotonin is created in our guts.

Dopamine
Most commonly associated with motivation and reward - dopamine is released when we exercise, which reinforces the habit. It brings us pleasure and exercising is a way of increasing your baseline dopamine, leading to enhanced motivation. 

Norepinephrine 
Helps to mobilise the brain and body for action. When we exercise the release of norepinephrine heightens our alertness, energy and focus. By helping connections between neurons, it increases neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to adapt and change. It is also responsible for releasing BDNF, brain-derived neurotophic factor.

BDNF 
This protein is released during exercise, promoting brain cell repair, neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, improving cognitive functions with regards learning and memory in particular. It is also heavily linked to emotional regulation and mood. 

Endorphins
A natural sedative in response to physical stress (i.e. exercise), leaving us feeling blissful and calm.

All of these help lift our mood.

Putting science to one side and talking more broadly about how exercise can enhance our mental wellbeing, there are 4-things can raise mood:

1. Doing something that’s beneficial for the body 
2. A sense of achievement
3. Closeness to others
4. Enjoyment
   
   
   

We are for all those who find peace in their movement. 

REAL fights for enhanced mental wellbeing through physical action.