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"Regular exercise lowers blood pressure, helps maintain a healthy weight and reduces cholesterol"

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When you health-mental, emotional etc.-improves, your relationships with other people may also improve. Since exercise can reduce the amount of depression, it helps you increase your confidence, and yo're more likely to put yourself out there.

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You already know the physical benefits of exercise: better health, reduced risk of potentially serious disease, lower blood pressure and a well-toned body. Exercise carries emotional and social benefits as well. According to KidsHealth, people that exercise regularly are more likely to classify themselves as happy than those that don't. Reap all of the benefits of exercise by getting in 30 to 60 minutes daily.

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Social & Emotional Benefits of Regular Exercise | Livestrong.com

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You already know the physical benefits of exercise: better health, reduced risk of potentially serious disease, lower blood pressure and a well-toned body. Exercise carries emotional and social benefits as well. According to KidsHealth, people that exercise regularly are more likely to classify themselves as happy than those that don't.

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Exercise can help with anxiety and/or depression. Exercising can help your mood, even if it's just a little bit of exercise in a week.

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Setting the Stage (by Example)

Dr. Shawna Charles, who received a PhD in Psychology from Walden University, put her love of psychology into action by opening a Los Angeles boxing gym to provide people with the help they need, including fitness, an ear to listen to their problems, and a connection to vital social services. Dr. Charles, like many others in her field, understands the connection between good physical and mental health.

The Psychological Benefits of Exercise

Most of us know the many physical benefits of exercise: weight control, lower blood pressure, reduced risk of diabetes, and increased energy, just to name a few. But what about the psychological benefits of exercise? From easing symptoms of depression and anxiety to keeping your memory sharp, there's no shortage of mental benefits of exercise. Whether you need motivation to get to the gym or to just take a brisk walk, the five psychological benefits of physical activity below will have you tying up your shoe laces and heading out the door.

1. Help for depression and anxiety
Exercise is a scientifically proven mood booster, decreasing symptoms of both depression and anxiety. Physical activity kicks up endorphin levels, the body's famous "feel good" chemical produced by the brain and spinal cord that produces feelings of happiness and euphoria. Even just moderate exercise throughout the week can improve depression and anxiety, so much so that some doctors recommend trying out an exercise regimen for these conditions before turning to medication.

2. Decreased stress
Another mental benefit of exercise is reduced stress levels-something that can make us all happier. Increasing your heart rate can actually reverse stress-induced brain damage by stimulating the production of neurohormones like norepinephrine, which not only improve cognition and mood but improve thinking clouded by stressful events. Exercise also forces the body's central and sympathetic nervous systems to communicate with one another, improving the body's overall ability to respond to stress.

3. Increased self-esteem and self-confidence
From improving endurance to losing weight and increasing muscle tone, there's no shortage of physical achievements that come about from regular exercise. All those achievements can all add up to a whopping boost of self-esteem-and the confidence that comes with it. You may not set out for better-fitting clothes, a slimmer physique, and the ability to climb a hill without getting winded. Oftentimes it happens before you even realize it. It's just one of the many benefits of physical activity that boost your body, mind, and spirit.

4. Better sleep
If you have trouble getting a good night's sleep, exercise can help with that, too. Physical activity increases body temperature, which can have calming effects on the mind, leading to less sheep counting and more shuteye. Exercise also helps regulate your circadian rhythm, our bodies' built-in alarm clock that controls when we feel tired and when we feel alert. (Although improved sleep is a psychological benefit of exercise, sleep experts recommend not exercising close to bedtime.)

5. Brain boost
From building intelligence to strengthening memory, exercise boosts brainpower in a number of ways. Studies on mice and humans indicate that cardiovascular exercise creates new brain cells-a process called neurogenesis-and improve overall brain performance. It also prevents cognitive decline and memory loss by strengthening the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning. Studies also prove that physical activity boosts creativity and mental energy. So if you're in need of inspiration, your big idea could be just a walk or jog away.

Fascinated by the mental benefits of exercise? Or how exercise can improve depression or anxiety? A bachelor's in psychology will give you the knowledge you need to help others by making meaningful contributions in the field of psychology.
Even if you work full time, a bachelor's in psychology is something you can achieve. Featuring a flexible, socially conscious learning environment, Walden University makes higher education possible in an online format that fits your busy life. Learn how you can help others with an online BS in Psychology from Walden.

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Exercise isn't just great for your body, it's great for your brain. Check out these 5 mental benefits of exercise.

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"it can reduce the risk of developing several diseases" It reduces the chance of type two diabetes, and cancer. It also helps you lose weight.

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Physical activity and health

can improve your health and reduce the risk of developing several diseases like , and .

Physical activity and exercise can have immediate and long-term health benefits. Most importantly, regular activity can improve your quality of life.

A minimum of 30 minutes a day can allow you to enjoy these benefits.

Benefits of regular physical activity

If you are regularly physically active, you may:

lower the risk of and some

have stronger , and joints and lower risk of developing

recover better from periods of hospitalisation or bed rest

feel better - with more energy, a better , feel more relaxed and better.

A healthier state of mind

A number of studies have found that exercise helps . There are many views as to how exercise helps people with depression:

Exercise may block negative thoughts or distract you from daily worries.

Exercising with others provides an opportunity for increased social contact.

Increased fitness may lift your mood and improve your sleep patterns.

Exercise may also change levels of chemicals in your brain, such as serotonin, endorphins and stress hormones.

Aim for at least 30 minutes a day

To maintain health and reduce your risk of health problems, health professionals and researchers recommend a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days.

Physical activity guidelines

Doing any physical activity is better than doing none. If you currently do no physical activity, start by doing some, and gradually build up to the recommended amount.

Be active on most, preferably all, days every week.

Accumulate 150 to 300 minutes (2 ½ to 5 hours) of moderate intensity physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes (1 ¼ to 2 ½ hours) of vigorous intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination of both moderate and vigorous activities, each week.

Do muscle strengthening activities on at least 2 days each week.

Ways to increase physical activity

Increases in daily activity can come from small changes made throughout your day, such as or instead of using the car, getting off a tram, train or bus a stop earlier and walking the rest of the way, or walking the children to school.

See your doctor first

It is a good idea to see your doctor before starting your physical activity program if:

you are aged over 45 years

you often or have spells of severe

moderate physical activity makes you very breathless

you think you might have heart disease or you have heart problems

Tips and ideas for older people (65 years and older)

Four types of activity are needed to keep you healthy:

moderate activity - for your heart, lungs and blood vessels

strength activities - to help maintain bone strength

flexibility activities - to help you move more easily

balance activities - to improve your balance and help prevent falls.

Pre-exercise screening is used to identify people with medical conditions that may put them at a higher risk of experiencing a health problem during physical activity. It is a filter or 'safety net' to help decide if the potential benefits of exercise outweigh the risks for you.

Print a copy of the (PDF) and discuss it with your doctor, allied health or exercise professional.

Where to get help

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Just 30 minutes of moderate activity each day can improve your health and reduce the risk of developing certain conditions or diseases.