Like muscles, many parts of the brain get a physiological workout during exercise.
Exercise increases blood flow to the brain. The brain then has the power to customize hormone levels; for example the hormone cortisol, which is related to stress, is reduced along with feelings of anger, fatigue and tension. Serotonin and dopamine are chemicals that are released during and after exercise that make us feel calm, happy and euphoric.
The great thing for us is if you do not want to wait for these feelings to come to you, you can bring them on by exercising.
Single bouts of exercise can also reduce anxiety for several hours afterwards.
Low to moderate forms of exercising, for half an hour to an hour three to five times a week, is recommended for brain training.
This training can be variety of activities include joining in on a group fitness class, lifting weights or cardio training (for example walking, cycling or rowing). If you are sweating and starting to breathe heavy you are working hard enough.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Basketball is Back!
It’s time to dust off the Air Jordans and get back on the court! How about taking a play from your favourite basketball team and shooting hoops yourself? It will help get you into shape this spring…before summer starts!
Basketball is an excellent way to burn calories and improve aerobic conditioning when played at a moderate or high intensity. It also helps to build muscle as your body uses dynamic movements to allow you to stop and start quickly with the flow of the game.
Basketball is fast moving and involves a lot of variety of skills including shooting, dribbling, passing, rebounding, defence, trash talking and much more!
The game can be played at various levels, from shooting baskets, to playing one-on-one with someone of equal ability, to playing a rigorous, full-court game. Basketball is good as a team sport or just an individual practice, honing your shooting and agility skills.
A good tip to remember with any aerobic based sport, is a good warm up and cool down routine as it is important to prevent injuries.
Basketball is an excellent way to burn calories and improve aerobic conditioning when played at a moderate or high intensity. It also helps to build muscle as your body uses dynamic movements to allow you to stop and start quickly with the flow of the game.
Basketball is fast moving and involves a lot of variety of skills including shooting, dribbling, passing, rebounding, defence, trash talking and much more!
The game can be played at various levels, from shooting baskets, to playing one-on-one with someone of equal ability, to playing a rigorous, full-court game. Basketball is good as a team sport or just an individual practice, honing your shooting and agility skills.
A good tip to remember with any aerobic based sport, is a good warm up and cool down routine as it is important to prevent injuries.
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