The Best Workout to Relieve Stress

Did you know that stress causes cancer? I know you’ve probably heard it on TV or the news but probably brushed it off as I did. Until it hit home. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and the doctors said it was caused by stress!!! How crazy is that?

I knew stress was bad but I never imagined to the level of giving you cancer. This is why it is so important that we do whatever we can in order to alleviate our stress. However, the society we live in is always about doing MORE, being MORE, and MORE MORE MORE! If that doesn’t stress you out then I don’t know what will. Then we have social media which is supposed to be a fun tool to let us refresh, pass time, and not STRESS. HA! Think again. Instagram is the top 5 culprits of stress, if you ask me. All these accounts showing you how you should be living your life, how you should look, act, and feel when the reality of it is that they don’t even live those lives themselves. 

Here’s where working out comes in. If I’m being honest, any exercise is a stress reliever. Exercise produces endorphins which makes us feel good and happy. I also think there is nothing like letting out a bit of frustration on a punching bag or the weights. However, there are more relaxed exercises that you can do that will definitely set the mood and calm you down… such as Yoga and Pilates.

There are also other exercises such as Barre that are not as crazy and high energy as a kickboxing or spinning class will be. I was also told by my therapist that swimming calms anxiety as well as riding a bike outside. There is something about getting in touch with nature that really calms your nerves.

I would also recommend meditating or praying in the mornings to start your day off right. Some of my clients have also found that journaling helps as well as reading a book with their morning coffee.

What are some ways you calm your stress?