
But to beat the blues and the sudden come-down, you have the perfect remedy at your disposal — exercise. Indeed, exercise not only works on your body's health and fitness, but your mind as well.
How Does Exercise Help My Mood?
The chemistry of exercise involves several factors, including triggering the stress response, which is actually beneficial during exercise. Why? Because when you begin a workout, your fight-or-flight instinct kicks in, and a chemical reaction begins, including the release of endorphins that numb pain and pave the way for peak performance.
Endorphins also induce a feeling of well-being (runner's high being one example), while also creating a sense of clarity. The problems and stresses of the daily grind seem more manageable after a workout.
Besides improving your mood, studies have shown that exercise helps alleviate chronic depression by increasing the neurotransmitter serotonin. Exercise also helps normalize sleep, which has positive effects on the brain. Researchers also suggest exercise improves your mental state by providing a sense of accomplishment, while also improving a person's responsiveness to stress.
Exercise is a natural and effective way of dealing with anxiety. Concentrating on your workout is also a great way to interrupt the constant flow of worries running through your head.
Where Can I Workout In Amarillo?
The Downtown Athletic Club in Amarillo can help you conquer those post-holiday blues. With a staff of professional trainers on hand, the latest in exercise equipment, and a variety of group fitness classes, the DAC is a full-service club.
Here are three of the fitness classes we offer:
Functional Fitness - New to the DAC in 2016, the TRX Functional Fitness class combines high intensity interval training with strength training while engaging functional muscle movements you use throughout your day. You'll improve your health, stamina, physique and physical appearance.
Flow Yoga - A great fit for both athletes and yoga practitioners, this Hatha-Vinyasa style class combines elements of power yoga to increase flexibility while challenging your muscles. Yoga mats and blocks are provided.
Power Yoga - This class is designed to heat up your typical yoga routine — literally. Performed in a heated environment, this practice will build strength, increase flexibility and cleanse toxins, all while challenging your muscles.
TREK - Another great fitness class is TREK, which is an interval training class on a treadmill. The 30-minute workout will burn tons of calories and get your heart rate up. It's open to people of all fitness levels.