We live in a high paced, high stress world.  Whether you’re an executive in corporate America, a student, or a stay at home mom you’re most likely affected by stress.  It’s now widely accepted that emotional stress can lead to physical ailments (think diabetes and heart disease) and that physical problems lead to emotional ailments (such as depression and anxiety).  We can’t separate our physical well being from our emotional well being; the two go hand in hand.

 

While stress can provide positive motivation, when taken too far it contributes to headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, depression, and anxiety.  An estimated 43% of adults suffer from adverse health effects related to stress and as many as 90% of doctor’s visits are for stress related complaints (http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/effects-of-stress-on-your-body).

 

So how does this all relate to exercise and what the heck does chillax mean?

 

Chillax is a made up word combining Chill and Relax.  It’s common knowledge that most of us need more relaxation to provide relief from our everyday stress…but who has the time, right?  Wrong!  Your health depends on finding a way to relieve stress.  The good news: Exercise can provide the chillaxation and stress relief that most of us so desperately need!

 

According to www.mayoclinic.com, physical activity increases your body’s production of endorphins, causing a natural improvement in mood.  High intensity exercise can cause rapid production of endorphins, causing what is referred to as “runner’s high”, but lower intensity movement can have a similar effect.  This endorphin production is also what doctors attempt to mimic through the use of antidepressant medication.  If more people exercised regularly, perhaps less people would need these medications. 

 

In this fast paced world, I like to multi-task.  Using exercise as my meditation does just that.  After an intense workout, I often find that I’m no longer thinking about whatever it is that is causing stress in my life.  My mind is clear.  So…I just received the benefits of meditation (feeling a little more chillaxed) while also moving closer to my overall fitness goals.

 

You might be wondering what kind of exercise causes stress relief and how much you have to do to get these benefits. 

 

• The good news…any kind of exercise works.  From walking to yoga to weight lifting to running to you name it.  It all works.  If you’re not a regular exerciser, start slow and soon you’ll find yourself craving more intense exercise. 

• The better news…even a little bit of exercise helps relieve stress.  If you can’t find a chunk or 30 minutes or more to exercise, try exercising for just 10 minutes a few times each day; you’ll still feel the chillaxation benefits. 

• The best news…the stress relief benefits of exercise are immediate.  Many of the benefits we receive from regular exercise (weight loss, increased endurance and strength) take a tremendous amount of time to reach; I’m talking months or years.  The stress relief benefits are felt during a single session of exercise…take a walk feel the improved mood through increased endorphin production.