My Favorite Element for Optimal Health

As always, the theme of the week strikes again. There have been many people talking about appreciating that they have time for the element and people recognizing they are not getting it. So what is my favorite element for optimal health you ask? It is movement; I love to have movement in my day and it does wonderful things for the brain, body, and nervous system.

I purposely say movement for I do not want to limit the possibilities to just a form of exercise. The benefits of movement happen when you engage in any type of movement and summer offers a wonderful variety of things to do. You can go for a walk, go for a hike, play a sport, do yoga outside, chase fireflies, jump through the sprinkler, hula hoop, jump rope/skip-it, dance, clean the house, or my favorite movement: go swimming. The point being that it does not have to be a typical exercise regimen to get the amazing mind and body benefits.

What benefits are there to gain you ask? As long as you are engaging in movement for mild intensity, (think walking at a pace where you are trying to get space from someone who is walking too close behind you, so just a bit above a normal pace), and doing so for at least ten minutes provides benefit. Ideally you would want to get 30 minutes in a day, and it can be split up into three ten-minute segments or all together. By doing this, you will burn off some cortisol, (the stress hormone) – fun fact it can build up in the brain during stressful times making it difficult to concentrate, remember things, and overall ability to focus. There is also better regulation in the nervous system when you are getting movement. If you get enough gross-motor movement, you may also experience the feel-good endorphins that will boost mood and give you a more positive mindset.

There you have it; I hope I have inspired you to get some movement today to enjoy the benefits of better concentration and focus, better memory, a more regulated nervous system, and an overall better mood and mindset.

As always, I am here to help, simply reach out!