Tricking our brain with exercise
We can use exercise to help "trick" the brain and over time with consistent practice we can rewire our brain so that it responds with less anxiety. Below is a video with a couple of examples of how help our body to tell our brains to relax, shared by someone who knows what it's like to anxiety.
Exercise and the brain covers ideas about how exercise more generally help with mental health/emotional well-being, exploring some of the science behind the positive effects of exercise, and providing a plan which focuses not so much on the exercise, but on the thoughts and feelings that come from this.
If you are sill left wondering about how exercise helps to reduce anxiety, then check out the Navigate Life video which explains this is more detail, then scroll on down the page to learn some stretches and poses - because it doesn't have to be hard core exercise in order to make a difference.
Exercise and the brain covers ideas about how exercise more generally help with mental health/emotional well-being, exploring some of the science behind the positive effects of exercise, and providing a plan which focuses not so much on the exercise, but on the thoughts and feelings that come from this.
If you are sill left wondering about how exercise helps to reduce anxiety, then check out the Navigate Life video which explains this is more detail, then scroll on down the page to learn some stretches and poses - because it doesn't have to be hard core exercise in order to make a difference.
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Poses and stretches
Poses and stretches, such as Yoga, have been used for hundreds of years in cultures across the world. The very fact that they are still used today, suggests that they must have some sort of significant benefit to have lasted over such a long period of time. A “Harvard Mental Health Letter” highlights some of the research findings about the use of these sorts of excercises, specifically for reducing anxiety and depression. It would seem that the key to its success it through being mindful of the moment, focusing inward on the self and inparticular, carefully practicing deep breathing throughout the movements.
“By reducing perceived stress and anxiety, yoga appears to modulate stress response systems. This, in turn, decreases physiological arousal — for example, reducing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and easing respiration.”
Below are some videos which show some yoga poses for you to try, while further down the page you will find information about ‘power poses’ and their uses, as well as a more in-depth look into how exercises help rewire the brain to reduce experiences of anxiety.
“By reducing perceived stress and anxiety, yoga appears to modulate stress response systems. This, in turn, decreases physiological arousal — for example, reducing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and easing respiration.”
Below are some videos which show some yoga poses for you to try, while further down the page you will find information about ‘power poses’ and their uses, as well as a more in-depth look into how exercises help rewire the brain to reduce experiences of anxiety.
Cosmic Kids
Cosmic Kids is a fantastic web-based resource for kids, providing fun and imaginative guided yoga through story telling. The cosmic adventure of Frozen here is just one example of the many stories they have available to choose from. |
Mindful Movements by Class Dojo
Class Dojo characters show how to do three poses; elephant, triangle and tree. Which is your favourite? |
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Yoga with Adriene
Adriene has put this video together especially it help in reducing anxiety. If you enjoy this you may like to connect through social media to learn more about yoga and the poses that might be useful to you. You can access the links under this video when opened in YouTube. |
Teens Using Mindfulness and Moving in the Classroom
As a teen it can sometimes be hard to see why you would want to even try some of these techniques. Deep breathing, yoga, poses and exercises are being more and more common in schools as Mindfulness programmes are implemented. Here you can see some of these activities in action in a classroom. |
Super Hero Poses
Feeling anxious about something coming up? Maybe it's getting a haircut, going to school, having to talk to someone on the phone, test, exam, going for your drivers licence or even a job interview...Use these simple poses to let your body talk to your brain and help provide you with more confidence.
For a wider range of power poses check out this website. You will need to scroll down to get to the useful images that show you how to do the poses.
Feeling anxious about something coming up? Maybe it's getting a haircut, going to school, having to talk to someone on the phone, test, exam, going for your drivers licence or even a job interview...Use these simple poses to let your body talk to your brain and help provide you with more confidence.
For a wider range of power poses check out this website. You will need to scroll down to get to the useful images that show you how to do the poses.
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