Exercise Variation

Where do I Begin?

One challenge many people face when aspiring to start their exercise schedule is what exactly to do. Where do you start? What should you do? These questions can feel very overwhelming when wanting to start, and for many can even end their journey before it begins. Our research is aimed at finding the best possible solutions for this problem, including which kind of exercise is best for us given the situation, and what steps we can take to achieve this goal.

Is Anaerobic Exercise any Better?

What type of exercising plays the largest role in mental health recovery? Studies performed in 2010 by Ray and Carter seeked to answer this question, where they had participants engage in anaerobic activity, and they would monitor their neurological activity to find any discrepancies. Results concluded that anaerobic activity had a positive impact on reducing the overall mental stress of all participants in the study, lowering levels of cortisol and increasing dopamine receptor activation. These results indicated that participants felt a sense of rewards and accomplishment from their efforts, and reduced stress, enhancing focus and mood.

Aerobic Exercise

Does the word "cardio" sound familiar? If it does, then you know aerobic exercise. By definition, it is exercise that requires oxygen consumption, and includes any sort of cardiovascular conditioning. These kinds of exercises often are longer in duration, and lower in intensity. This can include running, walking, biking, jump rope, or swimming. Studies on aerobic exercises has been linked with combating stress!

Anaerobic Exercise

Anaerobic exercise is the opposite of aerobic exercise. By definition, it means "without oxygen," which simplify indicates a higher intensity, more powerful exercise. It works by using glucose stores for fuel rather than fat. Exercises for anaerobic exercise can include weight lifting, sprinting, and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). Studies on anaerobic exercise has been linked to combating depression!

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Additional Research

Previous research conducted by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness Sports and led by patron Landers in 1997 sought to understand the relationship between exercise therapy and reductions in anxiety. Despite the studies finding positive relationships between the two variables, it also highlighted the need for additional research and funding for this topic of research. It was not until recently that research for exercise psychology has begun to gain momentum. This class of research is desperately in need of the interest of researchers and the general public, and it is a part of our mission to inform you of its importance. Overall the research has provided evidence in support of the fact that exercise assists in the alleviation of mental health issues. As always, It is important to remember that having a strong social support system and using exercise in addition to supplementary treatments will yield the best results. For additional information on how to support our funding, click here.