The Benefits of Exercising During University
With all of the stress and anxiety that students have to deal with on a regular basis, it is incredibly important that university students have healthy outlets, like exercise, that allow them to decompress and to manage the ups and downs of daily life. Many people actively pursue hobbies, play video games, and spend time watching Netflix, but all too often, exercise and a healthy, comprehensive wellness routine is put on the back burner. Considerable research has been done on the healing, and de-stressing effects of exercise, and not just simple weight training, but yoga and meditation as well. Below are some of the ways that a varied exercise routine can help you manage the stress of daily life as a university student.
Yoga
Yoga is a great exercise regimen to incorporate into your routine because it targets a lot of your body and concentrates not only on physical exertion and well-being, but allows you to build and develop spiritual and cognitive well-being. Aside from improved muscular and cardiovascular health, including increased muscle strength and tone, yoga allows your to focus and centre your mind, works on balancing metabolism, and improves breathing. Yoga’s ability to improve mental well-being is, perhaps, the largest benefit that a university student can draw from this ancient practice.
Meditation
Meditation is also an important tool to help you manage stress. Relaxed states in the human brain induce the production of alpha waves, which are typically associated with states of extreme relaxation experienced during deep sleep. The production of alpha waves during meditation actually exceeds levels attained during REM sleep and has been demonstrated to actually reduce levels of anxiety and increase the distribution of oxygen in your blood stream. Meditation helps the heart and has been found to be an effective treatment for depression, insomnia and chronic headaches. It is also an important part of helping you deal with feelings of unhappiness, helplessness and general anxiety.
Weight Training
Your exercise regimen, however, should not be entirely spiritual, or focused on mindfulness. Good, old fashioned physical exercise in the form of weight training to build your body comes with its own list of notable benefits. Increasing bone density, strength and muscle mass, and promoting weight-loss can all lead to feelings of confidence in yourself and your body. The saying that x percentage of feeling good is looking good, while often an exaggeration, is not entirely untrue. When we feel good about our physical state, it transfers into other facets of our life and feelings of wellbeing, which is why it is important to include physical, weight training when we strengthen our bodies and our minds.
Exercise is important for all human beings, but it is especially important for people who are under constant, and often unmanageable amounts of stress. The financial and study pressures of university are a lot to handle, and finding ways to relieve the anxiety and stress are a necessity. Keep the above yoga, meditation, and exercise tips in mind and keep your life as stress free, healthy, and upbeat as possible. Take care of your mind, body, and soul and your tests, projects, and university life in general will become much easier to handle. For everything else, visit the Homework Help Canada service pages; we’ve got you covered.
References:
(2017). “The Benefits of Yoga.” American Osteopathic Association. Retrieved from: http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-your-health/health-conditions-library/general-health/Pages/yoga.aspx
(2017). “Benefits of Meditation.” Meditation Oasis. Retrieved from: http://www.meditationoasis.com/about/benefits-of-meditation/
Gustafson, K. “5 Benefits of Weight Training.” Active. Retrieved from: http://www.active.com/fitness/articles/5-benefits-of-weight-training
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