Brain-Challenging Physical Exercise Is the BEST

By Suzanne Holman • April 14th, 2010

Along with the mental exercise, be sure to give your cardiovascular system a good workout as often as possible. Anything that benefits your heart and lungs is a huge support for your brain. Our brains get their nourishment from the flow of nutrients and oxygen through our circulatory system. When we exercise more, the flow increases and our brains and memories benefit tremendously.

Particularly helpful in creating more connections in our brain is physical exercise that involves concentration to follow new moves. This stimulates the creation of new neuro-pathways. Try dance classes or some kind of sport. Workout classes in the water are easy on the joints while giving you a great cardio boost and stimulation of the brain with the new moves you learn each class.

If your belief is that you “hate to exercise” there is still hope for you.
Think about anything in your past that you enjoyed. Is there some way to do that
activity or to adapt it to what you could do now?

Try putting on some music you love and just move with it in the privacy of your home!
You’ll get your heart and lungs moving and can elevate your mood and energy level.

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Comments(1) Brain

Comments

By Susan Bosco on April 14th, 2010 at 7:57 pm

Thanks for reminding us to move, Suzanne! Both yesterday and today I meant to take a break and take a walk, but…time slipped away while I stared at the monitor most of the day (sigh).

Tomorrow for sure!

And good point about combining motion with mental activity. Makes so much sense.