Longevity logo

Maintaining Mental Strength and Inner Peace Using Physical Activity

“Change what you can, manage what you can't.”―Raymond McCauley

By Victoria LimPublished 5 years ago 4 min read
Like

Are you somehow managing not to lose it from day to day? Well, you are not the only one, as mental health of billions of people worldwide hangs in the balance, because of the stressful pace of modern day life. The challenges we face both at home and at work are making it increasingly hard to stay sane, so an active and conscious effort is necessary in order not to flip out. This is where physical exercise comes into play with the potential to significantly improve the state of our mind. Romans did not say in vain that “a healthy mind resides in a healthy body,” as this principle is topical today as it was two millennia ago. Mental strength and inner peace are, therefore, best attained through physical activity on a daily basis.

Blissful Bikes

If you visit the gym regularly, then you have probably wondered at some point why do they have those stationary bicycles that are made to mimic the effect real cycling has. Cycling is foremost an outdoor activity, during which you can benefit from the fresh air and the wind in your hair. In fact, as you pick up speed on your engineless two-wheeler, you start to feel better from the inside, as there is something inexplicable in the way speed calms us down. When we ride a bike the whole world seems more pleasant to live in, which is just the kind of mindset you should strive to adopt.

Yoga Classes

One of the obvious activities that joins the body and the soul is the Eastern practice of yoga. During the last couple of decades, it has become increasingly popular in the West, so every town can boast at least one yoga studio. The reason behind yoga’s popularity lies in moderate physical activity combined with the mental aspect of exercising. During a typical session, you are learning how to control your breathing and thoughts, all the while performing physical actions. The latter are not particularly challenging, but they still get your blood flowing, which renders yoga ideal for seniors.

A Walk in the Park

Another activity that the elderly enjoy in is walking. However, it never occurs to many business people that walking counts as a proper physical activity, so they stubbornly take the elevator instead of the stairs or they drive to work instead of walking to work. Needless to say, walking is a solo activity during which you have the freedom to set your own pace. Walk for as much as you like and wherever you like. The more natural the scenery, the better. If you take a stroll through the park you will breathe in fresh air that will clear out your thoughts, and make you feel more positive about life in general. Basically, going for a walk will help you think clearer, which is essential if you are required to be creative at work.

The fight Is on

If you wish to have a more hands-on approach to inner peace through physical activity (pun intended), then you can try out martial arts. You have probably heard of and know a move or two in karate and wrestling, but there are many other martial arts to discover. If you are interested in sports like MMA and fencing, you can find out more about them at Fighting Report blog, where you’ll find beginner’s guides to help you make those crucial first steps. Once you become familiar with the basic moves, you are ready to join the body and soul and turn your lifelong struggle into a real match against a human opponent.

Dance Away

Dancing is traditionally associated with the feeling of happiness, as you have probably never seen a dancer with a sad facial expression. Regardless of the type of music you dance to, whether it is classical music or more modern Latino beats, you are bound to have fun and smile all the time. Not only will you live longer, but dancing will improve the coordination of your body, so you’ll start moving like a real-life Spiderman through the crowds in the streets. Finally, dance classes will provide you with an opportunity to hang out with people of similar interests and travel together for dance completions. So many reasons to rejoice life!

Taking a Dip

We all loved visiting the local pool or going to the beach with our parents when we were kids, but few of us adopted the habit of swimming regularly as we grew up. However, it is never too late to start swimming, at least once a week, to reap the benefits of this unique exercise that engages nearly every muscle group in our body. Since a typical swimming practice takes up to one hour, you will have plenty of time to unwind mentally, and plan your schedule for the next couple of days. The aforementioned business people can take their dip early in the morning to cleanse both their body and their mind.

Those people who have adopted an active lifestyle rarely experience any mental issues, let alone depression and anxiety, which are quite common nowadays. Essentially, physical activity helps you achieve inner peace because you have to stay focused on the tasks ahead, so somber thoughts never get an opportunity to assail your mind.

mental health
Like

About the Creator

Victoria Lim

Victoria is a lifestyle writer with expertise in scribbling a lot of unnecessary words, walking a dog for miles and miles, getting bites from her pet squirrel and choosing tea for her next cup.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.