Movement for Mental Wellbeing

Your mind and body are always "talking," and movement reflects this connection. Think about it, when you're feeling down, your body responds by being heavy and stiff. When you're feeling anxious, your body is restless, tense, or tight. How you feel impacts how you move, so you can use movement to impact your emotions.

Check out some of my tips to use movement for grief, depression, and anxiety. Remember that mental wellbeing looks different for everyone. That's why it's a good idea to connect with your doctor and a licensed therapist to create a personalized plan. Wingate Counseling is here to help you on your wellness journey!

Grief

Grief is an emotional time that takes a toll on our physical health. Use movement to help reduce some grief stress stored in your body. My suggestion for grief is to do something that makes you feel powerful! Lift weights or do booty-busting sumo squats, anything that reminds you of your physical strength and inner resilience. It doesn't have to be complicated; lift some objects around the house or do bodyweight exercises. Try being playful and do the monkey bars at the park nearby. Grief is such a serious and draining time, but you can use the strength of your living body to take back some power!

Depression

Depression can leave our bodies feeling heavy and stiff. When our bodies feel stuck, it feeds into the cycle of hopelessness in our minds. My suggestion for depression is to do something short but active to help boost your mood. Try HIIT, brisk walking, or jump rope to get your heart rate up and the blood pumping through your body. Even short cardio sessions count; it's more about the effort than specific results. Notice how elevating your heart rate makes you feel afterward. Be sure to take a moment to appreciate and acknowledge your work. Depression can feel hopeless, but you can change the narrative and boost your mood with cardio movement.

Anxiety

Anxiety makes our bodies restless, tense, and at times paralyzed. When people experience prolonged anxiety, there is often tightness and soreness in the body. Some people notice tightness in the chest area from shallow breathing. My suggestion for anxiety is meditative movement, such as yoga. Connect with your body and slow your mind down with an intentional yoga practice. Allow your body to open and release tension. By connecting with your breathing, you send messages to your brain that all is well, thus reducing anxiety. Anxiety crowds our minds and exhausts our bodies, but you can create space and energy by connecting to the breath and flow of yoga.

Take-Aways

Movement is restorative, mood-boosting, and powerful for our mental wellbeing. Whether you are dealing with depression, anxiety, or grief, know that you can impact your emotions by incorporating more movement into your routine. Find what works for you and be open to trying something new! For more ideas on using movement for your specific concerns, connect with me at Wingate Counseling for personalized support.