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12 October 2020
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Story Arina Engelbrecht
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Arina Engelbrecht from Organisational Development and Employee Well-being believes physical activity has a number of benefits for one’s health, including stress relief.
Being physically active plays a big role in preventing the development of mental-health problems and in improving the quality of life of people experiencing mental-health problems.
Treatment for depression
Physical activity can be an alternative treatment for depression. It can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with medication and/or psychological therapy. It promotes all kinds of changes in the brain, including neural growth, reduced inflammation, and new activity patterns are formed that promote feelings of calm and well-being. It releases endorphins – powerful chemicals in the brain that energise your spirit and make you feel good.
Physical activity can be very effective in relieving stress. Research in adults has found that physically active individuals tend to have lower stress levels compared to individuals who are less active. It also leads to improved sleep. When a person sleeps better and feels more rested, overall quality of life improves. They cope better with daily life stressors.
Reduce Alzheimer's risk
Regular physical activity can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by up to 50%. It can also slow down further deterioration in those who have already started to develop cognitive problems. It stimulates the brain’s ability to maintain old connections as well as to make new ones.
A study asked people to rate their mood immediately after periods of physical activity (e.g. going for a walk/run, cycling, doing housework) and periods of inactivity (e.g. reading a book or watching television). Researchers found that participants felt more content, more awake, and calmer after being physically active compared to after periods of inactivity.
In conclusion, people who are physically active feel a sense of well-being, feel more energetic throughout the day, sleep better at night, have sharper memories, and feel more relaxed and positive about themselves and their lives.
“Being physically active not only changes your body, it changes your mind,
attitude, and your mood.” – Arina Engelbrecht
UFS hosts last ANC seminar before centenary celebrations in 2012
2011-11-17
Since March this year the Centre for Africa Studies at the University of the Free State (UFS) has been hosting a series of dialogues about the African National Congress (ANC). This is in preparation to the party’s celebrations of its 100 years in existence on 8 January 2012. During the course of the year well-known political commentators and intellectuals delivered speeches at the seminars held on the Bloemfontein Campus. These included Proff. William Gumede, Stephen Ellis and Colin Bundy, who covered, among others, topics like the history of the ANC and SACP in exile and past leadership.
The last ANC Centenary Seminar of the year will be hosted on Wednesday 23 November 2011.The speaker is Prof. Benjamin Turok, Chairperson of the Network of African Parliamentarians (NAP) and well-known activist. Prof. Turok will speak on the 'Evolution of Economic Policy Thinking'.
Wednesday 23 November 2011
18:00
Odeion
Please note that the dialogue series continues in 2012.