How do mindfulness and exercise improve mental health?
EvidenceTrusted Source supports the idea that exercising can help improve mental health.
Exercising may help prevent mental illness and help people manage certain mental health conditions. For example, exercise offers certain benefitsTrusted Source for people who have anxiety or depression.
Practicing mindfulness may also have particular benefits for mental well-being.
Mindfulness is a broad term, and these days, a buzzword, but the practice is rooted in traditions that date back thousands of years.
Renowned meditation expert Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, defines mindfulness as “The awareness that emerges by way of paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment.”
People can practice mindfulness using several methods, such as meditating or finding a specific time to focus on increasing their awareness.
EvidenceTrusted Source also supports the benefits of mindfulness for mental health. For example, mindfulness-based interventions may help with mental health conditions such as:
anxiety
depression
stress
eating disorders
However, this does not mean practicing mindfulness will always be helpful for all individuals or populations. Some evidence even supports that mindfulness-based interventions could increase distress in some people, particularly those prone to anxiety.
— a dynamic mental health duo?
Feeling stressed or lacking energy lately? New research suggests that combining mindfulness practices with regular exercise may be a more powerful remedy than either in isolation. After analyzing 35 clinical trials on over 20,000 adults, scientists found those partaking in mindful movement had enhanced mood, anxiety, and depression scores.
Mindfulness appears to help unlock exercise’s full potential by boosting motivation, overcoming discomfort, and promoting consistent effort. More research is needed to explain the mechanisms behind this effect, but they are likely to include decreased inflammation, optimized brain pathways, and even involvement of neurological reward pathways.
Medical News Today spoke with study author Masha Remskar, who explains the importance of this new research: «Both physical activity and mindfulness practice have well-established psychological benefits. However, by reviewing existing research studies, our study is one of the first to show how the positive effects can be increased when the two are combined.»
While larger trials are still needed to confirm and explain these results, you could start taking advantage of this beneficial combined effect today oving your body and quieting your mind could set you on the path to enhanced well-being.
How to get started with mindfulness and exercise:
Try mindfulness apps, attend workshops, or consult therapists.
Start small by taking brief mindful walks or trying restorative yoga.
Explore our strategies to try for mindfulness and emotional well-being.
Learn more about how exercise combined with mindfulness helps improve depression
A recent research review suggests that mindfulness combined with exercise may be best for improving mental wellness. Luis Herrera
- Mental health is a critical component of well-being, and research is ongoing about how people can best support their mental wellness.
- Data shows that practicing mindfulness and exercising regularly can benefit mental health.
- Results from a recent review suggest that combining mindfulness with exercise may be most effective for improving psychological well-being.
The body and the mind impact each other, which means maintaining both physical and mental health is essential for a person’s overall well-being.
Researchers are still investigating the nuanced relationship between physical and mental health and interventions to help people optimize both.
A systematic review recently published in Mental Health and Physical Activity analyzed the results of 35 studies to look at the combined effects of mindfulness and exercise.
The results suggest that when combined, mindfulness and exercise might offer the most benefits for mental health.
However, more research is needed to understand the full effects of mindful exercise and what level of intervention is most effective.
A recent research review suggests that mindfulness combined with exercise may be best for improving mental wellness. Luis Herrera/Stocksy
- Mental health is a critical component of well-being, and research is ongoing about how people can best support their mental wellness.
- Data shows that practicing mindfulness and exercising regularly can benefit mental health.
- Results from a recent review suggest that combining mindfulness with exercise may be most effective for improving psychological well-being.
The body and the mind impact each other, which means maintaining both physical and mental health is essential for a person’s overall well-being.
Researchers are still investigating the nuanced relationship between physical and mental health and interventions to help people optimize both.
A systematic review recently published in Mental Health and Physical Activity analyzed the results of 35 studies to look at the combined effects of mindfulness and exercise.
The results suggest that when combined, mindfulness and exercise might offer the most benefits for mental health.
However, more research is needed to understand the full effects of mindful exercise and what level of intervention is most effective.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/exercise-combined-with-mindfulness-improves-mental-health
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