You can calm your mind and improve your breathing. Activities such
as yoga, Pilates, and stretching provide the perfect antidote to life in
the era of cell phones, beepers, faxes, call-waiting, call-forwarding, and
conference calls. Learning to breathe deeply can help you control stress
and anger.
You gain perspective. You notice a lot more about your neighborhood
when you walk, jog, or bike down the street than when you whiz by at
30 miles per hour in your car. And although you can get a swell view of
New Zealand from behind the window of a bus, the thrill doesn’t com-
pare to climbing a glacier or cycling past flocks of sheep.You feel happier over the long-term.Not only does a single workout
make you feel better, but regular exercisers enjoy long-lasting psycho-
logical benefits.
You may become less depressed.Research clearly shows that exercise
can help clinically depressed men and women of all ages. A review of
80 studies found that depression appears to diminish after 4 weeks of
regular exercise, although the greatest improvements were found after
17 weeks.You have a healthy outlet for your anger.Instead of yelling at your
boss, you can get your aggressions out during a kickboxing class —
burning calories and improving your health at the same time.You Enjoy Social Benefits
Going for a walk or a bike ride with a friend or your spouse is a good way to
catch up on the latest gossip, weigh in on the day’s news, and stay current
with each other’s families, friends, and pets.You also boost your chances of finding a mate. Tired of the bar scene or
Internet dating services? Join a running club, a kickboxing class, or a soccer
team, and you’re sure to meet like-minded people. You may even meet your
significant other at the gym or through a bike club.Even if you’re not on the hunt for a spouse, getting into a new fitness activ-
ity is a great way to widen your social circle. When you hook up with a hiking
club or a softball team, you meet interesting people of all ages and from
all walks of life whom you may not have had the pleasure of knowing
otherwise.Chapter 24: Ten Great Reasons to Break a Sweat 361