How does exercise reduce stress?

Why is sports good against stress?

Why is it that you often feel better after exercising? Even on the days you initially dreaded it? People who like to exercise all recognize the good feeling after an exercise session. This is when the happiness hormone endorphins are released. This is a natural pain reliever that reduces stress and boosts your mood.

Many people experience a relaxed feeling after exercising. Your head is empty and you have left behind the worries of the day. Therefore, exercising often provides satisfaction. Your body is tired after a sports session and you feel satisfied.

Please note that to get a good night's sleep, it is best to exercise in the late afternoon or early evening. Your body will then have some time to unwind before you go to bed.

Sports and burnout recovery

Light forms of exercise have been proven to have a positive impact on overall well-being. Everyone would benefit from exercising more. Not only if you experience stress, but also if you suffer from burnout symptoms, exercise can help you feel better and recover faster.

You may wonder if exercising with burnout is wise. After all, sports can cause extra physical strain. This while during a burnout you often already experience physical and emotional exhaustion. It is therefore important to always listen to your own body. To be sure, you can first consult with a medical professional whether it is wise to play sports with a burnout.

Which sport for burnout?

Do you want to combat stress or burnout? Then avoid intense sports, such as running, heavy strength training or HITT training. This is because your body needs to recover after each exertion. Sports during burnout should be relaxed. Your mindset also plays a big role in this. Remind yourself that you don't have to perform.

According to research, moderate-intensity aerobic exercises (such as jogging, cycling and dancing or shaking) work especially well in recovering from burnout. These exercises usually involve the whole body and get your heart beating faster for an extended period of time.

Yoga for stress and burn-out

If you experience a lot of stress or are recovering from a burn-out, your body needs extra rest and sleep. Maybe you can't bring yourself to exercise or don't have the energy to move your body. The best thing you can do in this case is to listen to your body's signals.

Do you need rest but still want to actively recover from burnout? Then try yoga. Yoga is one of the best forms of movement against low intensity stress. It reduces tension in your body (which can result from mental exhaustion) and has a positive effect on your well-being in general.

Some of the benefits of yoga include:

• Opens up the parts of your body where you hold tension
• Stimulates the flow of your life energy
• Helps you better understand your body
• Yoga postures and breathing techniques create a calm mind