The most wonderful time of the year is also one of the most stressful times of the year. Exercise is one surefire way to keep stress at bay. Try these workouts to help you keep your cool so you make it through the season without melting down or blowing your top.
Yoga
Yoga is for everybody. Not just those that can touch their toes with their nose. According to mayoclinic.com, yoga offers a number of benefits including:
• Stress reduction. Studies have shown that yoga may help reduce stress and anxiety. It can also enhance your mood and overall sense of well-being.
• Improved fitness. Practicing yoga may lead to improved balance, flexibility, range of motion and strength.
• Management of chronic conditions. Yoga can help reduce risk factors for chronic diseases, such as heart disease and high blood pressure. Yoga might also help alleviate chronic conditions, such as depression, pain, anxiety and insomnia.
If you can’t find time to get to gym for a class, don’t use that as an excuse to do nothing. Instead fire up your computer or tablet and find a class. Some are as short as ten minutes. Surely, you can spare ten minute for self-care to ease stress, right?
Cardio
Get moving to get that heart rate up. Why? Because physical activity boosts endorphins – the feel good hormones – and takes your mind off of your to-do list. All that adds up to better mood and less stress. Just about anything counts. Here are some ideas:
At the gym:
• Try Zumba – the music and dance combination is unbeatable for fun and fitness.
• Hit the elliptical or treadmill – crank up your favorite playlist and sweat your cares away.
• Beat the pants off your buddies in a game of squash or basketball
At home:
• Try a fitness app for a great workout in as little as 7 minutes. You can find something you like on YouTube, too.
• Make up your own, no equipment needed routine. Go for a long or as short as you like, just get moving. Choose from:
o Jumping jacks
o Jump rope
o Lunges
o Squats
o Planks
o Mountain climbers
o Burpees
o High knees
o Push-ups
o Running your stairs
At the mall:
Put your Fitbit or smart phone app to work. How many steps can you get in while shopping? Set a goal and keep walking until you meet it. Think about it – you’ll save yourself the stress and trouble of searching for a premium parking space or paying for valet. Inside the mall, you can take a time out walk to clear your head between stores so you don’t spend impulsively.
Your goal throughout the season and beyond is to keep moving. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, scientists have found that regular participation in aerobic exercise has been shown to decrease overall levels of tension, elevate and stabilize mood, improve sleep, and improve self-esteem. Even five minutes of aerobic exercise can stimulate anti-anxiety effects. Don’t let stress ruin the most wonderful time of the year. Take care with exercise.
