4 Weird and Wonderful Ways That Exercise Makes You Happier

Last week, I wrote an article about learning to enjoy hard exercise. I realized after I published it that although I knew how it was possible, I didn’t know why. What exactly is the science behind a fitness nut’s compulsion to exercise? I knew that it was about way more than losing weight or looking a certain way. On the contrary, those things became less and less important to me as I fell more deeply in love with exercise.

Compelled to find answers, I discovered a fantastic book called The Joy of Movement by Kelly McGonigal.

Like me, McGonigal wanted to learn what makes exercise such a joyful part of life. Her book digs deep into the science and stories of other peoples’ experiences, uncovering some genuinely astounding revelations about not only exercise but what it means to be human.

Within those chapters are strange yet fascinating facts about how physical activity affects your biochemistry and contributes to your happiness. These were some of my favorite findings from McGonigal’s book that demonstrate why exercise is one of life’s most joyful pursuits.

Smelling Someone Else’s Sweat Can Improve Your Mood

Ever marvel at the magic of a group spin session or a hot yoga class, where the very air seems charged with positive energy?

There are several reasons behind this phenomenon, but one of them has to do with sweat. There’s such a thing as “happy sweat” that smells different from regular sweat.

As if that isn’t wild enough, smelling someone else’s “happy” perspiration can elevate your mood.

Whiffing other people’s stank may sound gross, but you’re literally breathing in happiness in those high-energy exercise classes.

And on the flip side, if you’re one of those people who feel embarrassed by how much they sweat in a group workout, you can now take heart that you’re just making the gang more joyful!

Contracting Your Muscles Pumps Hope into Your Body

Muscles can function as an endocrine organ and secret up to 35 different proteins when they contract. These proteins, known as myokines, can improve muscle strength, stabilize blood sugar, calm inflammation, and even improve mental health.

Exercise myokines are dubbed “hope molecules” in research papers because they incite such biological resilience.

One such myokine is known as irisin. Although most famous for its fat-burning properties, it also provides many other benefits, including anti-aging and anti-cancer properties.

But irisin also has a powerful impact on mental health. It enhances the brain’s reward system, which may alleviate depression, bolster motivation, and increase cognitive abilities.

Although irisin levels increase with all movement, a vigorous cardio workout can raise the amount in your blood by 35%.

So the next time you’re out pounding the pavement, know that with each stride your muscles are fueling your body with hope!

Exercising Can Yield a Cannabis-Like Brain Buzz

Also known as the “runner’s high,” this natural brain buzz is not exclusive to runners. The high comes from a mix of three neurochemicals the brain releases during moderate physical activity:

Dopamine, which is linked to motivation and pleasure

Endorphins, another feel-good hormone associated with minimizing discomfort and maximizing pleasure

Endocannabinoids, which alleviate anxiety and increases contentment and mood

Endocannabinoids are particularly interesting. These molecules are similar to the cannabinoids found in cannabis plants (like CBD and the more infamous THC). They flood the system during exercise and connect with receptors in the brain that boost mood and enhance dopamine.

That’s right; exercising can result in a mellow buzz similar to weed.

Although jogging can make endocannabinoids skyrocket, it is thought that any moderate physical activity can produce this effect, provided it’s for a continuous 20 minutes.

And get this: The more you exercise, the more sensitive your endocannabinoid receptors become.

In other words, exercise becomes more enjoyable the more you do it!

Moving in Certain Ways Improves Your Self-Image

How you move can positively change how you view yourself. This boost in self-image is thanks to proprioception, or your brain’s ability to perceive its own movements.

In exercise, proprioception can be an extremely powerful tool for bolstering self-esteem. For example, if you dance with intentional, elegant movements, your brain will perceive you are beautiful and graceful. After a killer strength workout lifting heavy weights, your brain will sense you are powerful.

It’s not unlike the concept of “power poses” or the Harvard study that found standing like superman can make you feel more confident.

These kinds of movements can even help you combat a negative self-image.

As Kelly McGonigal puts it:

“If there is a voice in your head saying, ‘you’re too old, too awkward, too big, too broken, too weak,’ physical sensations from movement can provide a compelling counterargument. Even deeply held beliefs about ourselves can be challenged by direct, physical experiences, as new sensations overtake old memories and stories.”

When movement offers you a more positive view of yourself, you find yourself better-equipped to handed life’s challenges and obstacles.

I’ve always known that the mental benefits of exercise carried over into other parts of my life, but I didn’t understand how. Now I know that at least part of it is the positive associations the brain makes between movements and capability.

Final Thoughts

You already knew that exercising was good for you, but getting a glimpse of the science behind why makes you realize how crucial exercise is to not only your physical well-being but your mental well-being as well.

You could even argue that exercise is the apex of self-care.

As Kelly McGonigal expresses in The Joy of Movement:

“At the most fundamental level, rewarding movement is how your brain and body encourage you to participate in life. If you are willing to move, your muscles will give you hope. Your brain will orchestrate pleasure. And your entire physiology will adjust to help you find the energy, purpose, and courage you need to keep going.”

All these biological forces at work underscore the fact that humans are born to move. Our muscles, limbs, and brain all work together to reward our perseverance with a positive outlook on life, an improved ability to tackle challenges— and a nice little buzz!

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Originally published in In Fitness And In Health on Medium