Mental Health Videos

Using Exercise for Managing Stress

Using Exercise for Managing Stress | Libero Magazine
Here are five guidelines to help create that feeling and use exercise to safely and positively manage your stress.

Support our Nonprofit Magazine!

Before you start reading... There has never been a time when our community and content was needed more. Unlike other sites, we don't publish sponsored content or share affiliate links. We also don’t run ads on our site and don’t have any paywalls in front of our content–-anyone can access all of it for free.

This means we rely on donations from our community (people like YOU!) to keep our site running. We want to be here to support you all through this pandemic and beyond, which is why we are asking you to consider donating whatever you are able.

A single (or monthly) donation of just $5 will make a HUGE difference and will help keep our nonprofit running so we can continue offering peer support for mental health through our content.

 

BECOME A MONTHLY PATRON


One of the most beneficial results of physical activity is its role in managing stress.

Here are five guidelines to help create that feeling and use exercise to safely and positively manage your stress:

1. When exercising, focus on the now. Avoid ruminating on the negative thing or event that is stressing you out. Focus instead on your breath and your physical movements. Redirect your attention away from your head and into your body.

2. Choose your movement wisely. Stress affects each person differently. Try moving your body in the opposite way that you are feeling. If you are feeling down and depressed, try something faster and with higher energy.

3. Allow yourself to feel your feelings during and after your workout. Exercise is not a substitution for your stress, it is a way to manage it. When you are fully present in your body, emotions may come up. Give yourself permission to completely feel and own these feelings during and after your exercise. This is different than ruminating on negative experiences.

4. Take a moment of stillness at the end of your workout to just be. Before you go back to your other activities, give yourself short period of time to simply exist without needing to do or feel anything.

5. Be mindful of your inner dialogue while you’re exercising. If you’re telling yourself exercise will make you feel better because you’re burning calories or because you’re changing yourself to look “better,” stop! This could be a red flag. Using calories burned or your weight as a way to feel better about yourself is a very slippery slope and in the long run, it will not effectively help you manage your stress or add to your wellbeing.

Watch here + don’t forget to subscribe! https://youtu.be/eoeUoYtIiXk

Ask an Expert | Libero Magazine 5
Robyn Baker, CPT, RYT, BS

Robyn is the founder, owner, and operator of Asteya Fitness in Irvine, CA. She believes in health at every size and that the key to health and well-being is establishing and nurturing the mind-body connection through intuitive eating and exercise. She is a born and raised California girl and a proud mommy.


SITE DISCLAIMER: The opinions and information shared in any content on our site, social media, or YouTube channel may not represent that of Libero Network Society. We are not liable for any harm incurred from viewing our content. Always consult a medical professional before making any changes to your medication, activities, or recovery process. Libero does not provide emergency support. If you are in crisis, please call 1-800-784-2433 or another helpline or 911.

Subscribe!

Become a Patron

Support our nonprofit magazine by becoming a monthly patron!