Get moving to manage stress

Exercise in almost any form can act as a stress reliever. Being active can boost your feel-good endorphins and distract you from daily worries. Virtually any form of exercise, from Aerobics to Yoga, can act as a stress reliever & you can make a little exercise go a long way toward stress management.

• It pumps up your endorphins. Physical activity can help bump up the production of your brain's feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins. Any aerobic activity, such as a DanceFit or 80’s Aerobics class, can contribute to this feeling.

• It's meditation in motion. After an Aerobics class, a Yoga session, or Ballet, you may often find that you've forgotten the day's irritations and concentrated only on your body's movements.

  As you begin to regularly shed your daily tensions through movement and physical activity, you may find that this focus on a single task, and the resulting energy and optimism, can help you stay calm, clear and focused in everything you do.

• It improves your mood. Regular exercise can increase self-confidence, improve your mood, help you relax, and lower symptoms of mild depression and anxiety. Exercise can also improve your sleep, which is often disrupted by stress, depression and anxiety. All of these exercise benefits can ease your stress levels and give you a sense of command over your body and your life.