No Running Required
I am not a runner.
But I've heard amazing things about the runner's high.
You may have heard of the runner's high too. It's a feel good state that runner's get when they hit the pavement (or track or trail). It's so good, it's been described as euphoric.
When I've gone out on runs, I struggle to find a second wind let alone euphoria.
Thank goodness there are many other ways you can exercise to create a whole cocktail of feel-good chemicals in the brain.
These chemicals include dopamine which has been linked to mood regulation and, if training in a group, potentially oxytocin- the love hormone.
Even one bout of exercise starts releasing a cascade of chemicals in the brain. But with chronic exercise (chronic is good in the context of exercise!), your brain becomes really good at producing and using them so get better at feeling better.
If you haven't moved a lot recently you may not reach euphoric levels post-training session, but you are sensitizing the receptors in your brain to take up these feel-good chemicals more easily and potentially creating more pathways they can travel. Aerobic exercise like running is particularly good at this.
So take a moment now to get a bit of movement in. Here are some quick suggestions:
- If in a chair, stand up and sit back down 10 times
- Do 10 jumping jacks
- Take a brisk 5 minute walk
You may not get a runner's high, but your laying the ground work for feeling good!
P.S. I just got up and down off my seat a bunch of times after proofreading this and already feel better!
